Photo Story: Flood Response in Bentiu, South Sudan

Photo Story: Flood Response in Bentiu, South Sudan

South Sudan is experiencing the worst flooding in 60 years. More than 850,000 people have been affected and need urgent life-saving support. The worst-hit is Unity State where 220,000 have been affected, including 110,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were already displaced due to conflict.

The flooding is a big blow to the youngest nation in the world, which is already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises with some 8.9 million people in need of humanitarian and protection assistance this year due to conflict and climate change, compared to 8.3 million people in 2021.

In Bentiu, response efforts are being undertaken alongside the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the World Food Programme and the Government of Unity State.

Ongoing efforts include construction and reinforcement of berms and dykes, and deployment of trash pumps to ensure continued humanitarian access at the airport and along core supply roads.

In addition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities such as borehole repair and maintenance have ensured the provision of safe drinking water to the flood-affected displaced at new IDP sites.

In Bentiu, record flooding for three consecutive years has submerged entire villages. Dikes such as this surround the entire Bentiu town, protecting it from flood waters.

IOM Deputy Director Generals Amy Pope and Ugochi Daniels on a canoe in Bentiu. People use canoes to move on roads that have now been turned into rivers.                                 

Dry lands in Bentiu, Unity State are protected by dikes.

IOM excavator builds a dike that protects Bentiu town from flooding.

Local community in Bentiu engages in flood-prevention initiatives in preparation for the rainy season.

Women whose livelihoods have been lost take part in strengthening existing dikes to prepare for the beginning of the rainy season.

One of the five makeshift shelters established for flood-displaced people in Bentiu town.

Onion-like surface water treatment system at one of the displacement sites in Bentiu, Unity State, increasing water treatment capacity.

IOM provides reliable and safe water for the displaced communities in Bentiu, Unity State.