South Sudan: How climate change can result in toxic water
Years of flooding have resulted in disastrous water pollution in South Sudan's main oil region. As communities, scientists and health workers scramble for solutions, the long-term impacts of the crisis is yet to emerge.
The village of Bentiu, situated in the north of South Sudan near the border with Sudan, has experienced significant demographic shifts due to conflict and other crises. Since 2013, the population has swelled to over 140,000 internally displaced persons seeking refuge in a massive camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). This camp, operated by several UN bodies, has become a permanent settlement despite the ongoing challenges.
Residents like Simon Gatkuoth have observed that fish caught near the oil fields are contaminated, with noticeable issues such as a peculiar smell when cooked. However, with no alternatives available, the community is forced to consume potentially unsafe fish. The camp resembles an artificial island amidst an expanding lake, a result of a record-breaking flood in 2021 linked to climate change.
This flood submerged farmlands across the region, destroying livelihoods and causing thousands of cattle deaths. The floodwaters remain, threatening these vulnerable communities.
One of the main concerns is the impact of oil production on the environment and human health. Unity State, home to the Bentiu POC Camp, is South Sudan's top oil-producing region, contributing over 90% of state revenue and virtually all exports. However, 159 out of 400 oil wells were submerged during the 2021 floods, affecting nearly 41% of oil extraction infrastructure.
This environmental disaster, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and enforcement of environmental laws, poses a significant threat to local ecosystems and human health. Lead concentrations in rivers and hydrocarbon concentrations in water have been found to exceed recommended limits. The combination of persistent flooding, environmental pollution, and unresolved conflict leaves the residents of Bentiu and surrounding areas in a precarious situation, trapped between rising waters and the struggles of rebuilding their lives.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
