Enormous floods have struck South Sudan, affecting over 700,000 people as record water levels from Lake Victoria surge through the Nile. Communities in the Sudd region, already displaced by previous floods, now face the possibility of permanent displacement due to climate change.
The Sudd, one of the world’s largest wetlands, experiences unique flooding patterns where water cannot easily drain back into the Nile, lingering for long periods. The recent floods, intensified by rising water levels in Lake Victoria, have overwhelmed traditional coping mechanisms of local communities such as the Dinka, Nuer, Anyuak, and Shilluk. Herders, once able to move cattle to higher ground, and farmers who planted after seasonal floods, are now struggling to adapt as the floodwaters persist.
The protracted conflict in South Sudan further complicates their ability to move to safer areas, with displaced herders and resident farmers clashing over limited land resources. Between 2020 and 2022, 2.6 million people were displaced due to both conflict and flooding. Stagnant floodwaters are also contributing to the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera and malaria, exacerbating already dire conditions.
Displacement camps like Bentiu, housing close to 100,000 people, are now islands surrounded by floodwaters. There are growing concerns about the sustainability of these camps as embankments protecting them may not hold against future floods.
Experts warn that rising water levels, possibly driven by deforestation and climate change, may lead to the permanent expansion of the Sudd wetlands. This poses the alarming question of whether displaced communities will ever be able to return to their homes. With flood patterns worsening, policymakers must consider the possibility of permanent displacement and explore options for relocating affected populations.