Washed away

On August 18, Mary Akuol’s livelihood was taken by heavy rains once again. Her homestead near the state capital Kuajok was washed away, forcing her and her children to abandon the family farm.

She worries for her children, saying that she can’t prepare food for the children: There is no fire and there is no place even to make fire, the whole area is full of water.”

The whole farm is damaged by water. The rooms for my children and goats are full of water,” she adds.

Akuol would like to move to town, but worries that she might not manage life there. She doesn’t have a monthly income – so far she and her kids have lived off their farm.

Every year Mary Akuol has to cope with floods and she is not the only one. Recurrent floods across South Sudan leave many in despair. When the rain does fall, it pours down in torrents, flooding out desperate residents already affected by conflict.