South Sudan’s Unity State, home to the oil-rich Bentiu region, is once again under threat from severe flooding. According to recent reports, more than 20,000 people in Mayom County alone have been displaced by rising waters. Schools and healthcare facilities have been submerged, leaving the community without essential services and food supplies.
The flooding crisis in Unity State is not an isolated incident. Other counties in the region are facing similar threats, marking yet another chapter in the area’s struggle against devastating floods that have persisted for the past four years. Since the catastrophic flood event of 2020, which inundated vast areas of the Greater Upper Nile region, thousands of livestock have perished, and countless homes have been destroyed, rendering many families homeless.
Despite being one of South Sudan’s key oil-producing states, contributing significantly to the global petroleum market, Unity State’s oil production was heavily impacted by conflict last year. The turmoil, primarily caused by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seizing control of critical areas, led to a temporary shutdown of operations. However, earlier this year, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces, visited South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir in Juba. Their discussions centred around resuming oil production, signalling a potential recovery for the region’s economic lifeline.
Recently, Unity State Governor Hon. Joseph Monytuil Riek completed a peace tour across all counties under his administration. Upon his return to the capital, Juba, he submitted a detailed report to President Kiir and Vice President Dr Riek Machar, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the population. Governor Riek acknowledged that the recurrent flooding has had a detrimental impact on the region’s stability and development, calling for urgent intervention to address the humanitarian crisis.
The people of Unity State continue to grapple with the consequences of these natural disasters, making it crucial for the government and international partners to work together to find long-term solutions to mitigate the impacts of flooding in South Sudan.