Sinking in Crisis: South Sudan's Dual Battle with Floods and Malaria

South Sudan faces severe flooding impacting 1.4 million people and worsening malaria cases, leaving over 300,000 displaced. Key affected areas are Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, with the health system under strain. Climate change is exacerbating these recurrent disasters.

Devastating floods have wreaked havoc in South Sudan, affecting an estimated 1.4 million people and displacing more than 300,000 individuals, as per the United Nations. The flooding, compounded by an upsurge in malaria cases, has taken a significant toll on the region, with dire consequences for the local populace.

Particularly hard-hit are the states of Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, which account for over half of those impacted. According to a late Friday report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), out of the affected, significant numbers find refuge in 43 counties including the contested Abyei Administrative Area.

Meanwhile, joint assessments by government and inter-agency teams have warned of additional flood-displaced residents in various counties, overwhelming already strained health services. The continuous heavy rainfall, caused by climate change, since May 2024, has led to repeated flooding, further damaging homes and livelihoods across the country, a pattern likely to persist with ongoing environmental challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)