22 August 2013 - The number of people displaced by flooding and suffering from disease has risenin Maiwut County, Upper Nile State, according to a delegation that recently visited the area.

The health situation in the county was deteriorating as malaria and waterborne diseases spread through the area, World Health Organization (WHO) Officer Emmanuel Timothy said following the delegation's assessment on 21 August.

The assessment team comprised representatives of the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC), UNMISS, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Food Programme, UNICEF, WHO, World Vision and Solidarity International.

"The number of reported cases of malaria and waterborne diseases such as watery diarrhea is alarming," Mr. Timothy said. "This is a concern and something has to be done urgently before the situation is out of hand."

During the visit, WHO handed over anti-malaria, diarrhea kits and chlorine for water treatment to Maiwut County Commissioner Gatdet Bol Bagouang.

"These people need urgent assistance and we, as the humanitarian community, have the obligation to respond quickly to this terrible situation," said Upper Nile SSRRC Director Peter Pal Chuol.

According to Commissioner Bagouang, the number of people affected by floods in the county had risen from an initial 1,500 to over 18,000.

Some displaced people were living in churches, schools and public centers, the commissioner said. "It is difficult ... for those that are outside the county, so we have asked the communities to help them by providing shelter."

He called on the humanitarian community to urgently provide food and non-food items to affected people.

Led by Commissioner Bagouang, the humanitarian delegation visited several affected areas, witnessing a large number of women and children in a public centre in Maiwut town.

The displaced people there urged the humanitarian community to provide food, plastic sheets and tents.

"We are here suffering with our children," said Nyahap Luak, one of the displaced. "We do not have food and a place to sleep. We want the humanitarian community to hear our voices and help us out."