Buckets, sheets and smiles: Resilience shines in Panyikang County

In the heart of Upper Nile State, where swollen rivers have forced thousands from their homes, a quiet but powerful moment unfolded.

12-year-old Ayuek and her mother Nyanut were displaced by floods from Korfulus in March 2026. Ayuek’s family found a new home in Panam, Panyikang County.

World Vision, with support from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF), is responding to WASH emergencies in Panyikang County, including distribution of essential non-food items to flood affected communities.

 Ayuek clutched a bar of soap with the kind of joy only a child can show.

 “I will use the soap for washing my school uniform,” she shares, her eyes bright. “It will keep me clean and smart.” 

For Ayuek, cleanliness is more than comfort; it is dignity and a chance to walk into class with confidence despite the chaos around her.

Throughout the months of May and June, World Vision has distributed buckets, soap and plastic sheets to 1,500 households across the six payams of Panyikang County.

Ayuek’s mother, Nyanut, looked at the plastic sheet she had just received.
“The rains are here, and I fear being displaced again,” she admits. “But this sheet is light. If floods come, we can move quickly and build another shelter. For families like hers, mobility is survival.

Nearby, Nyanayul smiles as she holds her new bucket. “This will help me fetch water,” she says simply, knowing that every drop carried home is a victory against hardship.

And then there was Awien Riak, an elderly woman from Canal, perched on a wheelbarrow. She broke into a wide smile as World Vision staff handed her plastic sheets. Her expression said what words could not: resilience wrapped in gratitude.

These items may seem ordinary, but in Panyikang they are treasures. Soap means hygiene when income is scarce. Buckets mean water carried safely. Plastic sheets mean shelter that can rise again after disaster.

“The target is 3000 households; so far 1,500 have received it. These items are meant to give internally displaced persons (IDPs) a fresh start after losing their belongings to the floods. Of course, the needs are still many, especially in hygiene and sanitation,” appeals Maring Dimo, SSHF WASH Manager.

Story and Photos by Scovia Charles| World Vision South Sudan