Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has faced ongoing civil unrest and crises, leaving over 2.4 million people internally displaced.

In 2024 alone, more than 379,000 individuals have been displaced by seasonal flooding, which has escalated into a recurring catastrophe affecting pastoral communities.

Recent flooding has been exacerbated by upstream dam operations in Uganda and rising levels of Lake Victoria, contributing to the overflow of the Nile and significantly expanding South Sudan's wetlands.

Families like that of Nyabuot Reat Kuor have lost their farms and livestock to flooding, forcing them to rely on foraging for wild leaves and water lilies for survival.

With food assistance reduced due to declining international funding, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs, and the World Food Program has reported halved rations.

In Ayod County, over 69,000 displaced individuals depend on the Jonglei Canal for food assistance, but access is severely limited due to flooded roads.

Communities in Pajiek face extreme isolation, with access requiring a six-hour walk through deep water, and they lack essential services such as healthcare and education.

Pajiek is under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition and lacks government presence, further complicating the delivery of aid.

In the neighboring village of Paguong, healthcare is critically lacking, with medical staff unpaid since June and patients facing hazards like snake bites while waiting for treatment.

The unfinished Jonglei Canal has become a refuge for those displaced by flooding, yet it remains neglected and devoid of basic services.

The Dinka, Nuer, and Murle communities are struggling to maintain their traditional farming and cattle-rearing practices due to the increasing floodwaters.

The Independent continues to report on critical issues, emphasizing the importance of on-the-ground journalism to highlight the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.