Devastating floods in South Sudan’s Jonglei State uprooted the lives of over 400,000 people, forcing them to flee to higher ground. The floodwaters transformed farmlands, leaving families with no choice but to fish on land they once harvested. 

Crop farming and livestock were the main income sources for Riak Garang Horok, a single mother of three children living in Maar, Jonglei State. But flooding swept away her crops and killed her livestock, leaving the family without a home or livelihood. 

Thanks to your support, our partners were able to deliver food assistance to vulnerable families like Riak’s who were affected by the flooding. Our partners also provided cash assistance and fishing kits to those whose land was flooded in order to help them adapt to the drastically altered landscape. 

Riak said, “I received cash assistance for 5 months and a fishing kit. This helped me and my family...I was able to meet basic needs and learn new skills in fishing and fish preservation, which is a new livelihood option for me. I catch fish for consumption and keep some of the surplus to sell to meet other basic needs, including buying more nets for more catch. This is how we have been surviving the situation.” 

Photo caption: Riak Garang Horok preparing the fish she caught using fishing kits. (Photo: LWF South Sudan)