Severe Flooding in South Sudan Displaces Over 226,000 and Worsens Health Crisis

WHO is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to scale up the response to this complex health emergency.

South Sudan is experiencing some of the worst flooding in decades, causing widespread devastation across the country. Over 226,000 people have been displaced, with homes and livelihoods severely impacted. Key infrastructure, including roads, has been submerged, isolating communities and hampering access to essential services.

The floods have affected 42 of South Sudan's 78 counties. As of October 4, 2024, around 890,000 people in flood-affected areas have been impacted, with 58 health facilities submerged in five counties and nearly 90 others rendered inaccessible. About 15 main roads, including vital routes to the capital, Juba, are cut off, complicating efforts to provide tertiary health services.

While heavy rains during the rainy season (April to November) typically trigger flooding, climate change has intensified these events, stretching communities' coping abilities and, in some cases, causing permanent displacement. The current floods exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis; South Sudan is hosting nearly 800,000 refugees and returnees fleeing armed conflict in neighbouring Sudan.

In Renk County, a critical entry point for refugees, two suspected cholera cases have been reported. Malaria cases are also on the rise, with over 120,000 cases and 31 suspected deaths reported as of September 29, 2024. Additionally, there have been 55 snakebite incidents reported in just five weeks.

“People are in a heightened state of vulnerability due to multiple shocks. WHO is committed to working with the Ministry of Health and our partners to ensure access to essential health services while prioritizing the response to growing humanitarian and health needs,” said Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in South Sudan.

In response to the crisis, WHO has distributed approximately 88 metric tons of emergency health kits to critical locations, including Renk, Bentiu, Malakal, and Bor counties. These kits can treat over 870,000 people and include essential medical supplies, such as interagency emergency health kits, cholera investigation and treatment kits, antimalarial drugs, and snakebite antivenoms. Since January 2024, WHO has also distributed nearly 1,300 malaria kits nationwide and prepositioned 20 cholera investigation kits along with 9,200 standalone cholera rapid diagnostic tests, capable of testing 9,400 samples.

WHO is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to scale up the response to this complex health emergency. This includes coordinating emergency health responses, overseeing initial rapid needs assessments in Cueibet County, and training health workers to strengthen the emergency response. Efforts are being made to protect health facilities from damage and relocate essential medical supplies to safer areas.

The organization is monitoring the health impacts of the floods, focusing on vector-borne and waterborne diseases. Alongside partner organizations, WHO is coordinating on-the-ground flood responses to ensure that emergency health assistance reaches those in need.

Recognizing the broader context, WHO is working with governments across Africa to build climate-resilient health systems capable of adapting to emerging threats while continuing to address existing health needs. Climate change presents a fundamental threat to human health, and addressing these complex challenges requires robust legal, institutional, and operational structures for effective action.

WHO supports countries in developing and implementing strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on health systems, track progress in protecting health from climate effects, and reduce health systems' carbon emissions. The organization advocates for sustainable investments in resilient health systems and infrastructure to withstand climate shocks and safeguard vulnerable communities.