Bor — The governor of Jonglei state, Kuol Manyang, has called upon humanitarians agencies to assist Ayod and Duk counties which have been hit by food shortages following the late start of the rainy season in May and heavy flooding in August and September.

"The challenge in Ayod and Duk counties is hunger because of the floods in the state this year. In Ayod people survived on water lilies, wild fruits and leaves," said Manyang.

According to Manyang, the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) and World Food Program (WFP) have already made assessments of the food situation, and urged them to quickly deliver to the affected people.

Manyang said, with regards to assistance, "the earlier the better" as if it is delayed until May, next year's rain may delay it further, to March.

Between September and November heavy floods affected most of the villages in Ayod, displacing hundreds of people to Ayod county centre. The influx of water and a lack of mosquito nets has led to an outbreak of malaria. There has also been increased cases of the kala-azar disease.

In August the South Sudan Red Cross reported that 34,000 people's homes had been destroyed by flooding in Jonglei.