By Lodu William Odiya
Communities in Unity State are facing renewed concerns over flooding as heavy rains are predicted amid warnings of a possible El Niño event and declining humanitarian funding.
For residents of the state, climate-related challenges have become a persistent part of daily life, with repeated flooding displacing communities and damaging livelihoods and essential infrastructure.
A vast network of earthen dykes in and around Bentiu, maintained with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), is expected to come under increasing pressure if heavy rains intensify.
The defensive structures are critical to protecting an estimated 300,000 vulnerable people living in and around Bentiu, many of them women and children who have already experienced displacement and humanitarian hardship.
Concerns over the condition and sustainability of the flood-control network have grown as humanitarian organisations face reduced funding while the need for assistance continues to increase.
UNMISS officials have called for stronger national leadership in responding to the growing climate and humanitarian risks facing displaced communities in Unity State.
Sam Muhumure, Head of the UNMISS Bentiu Field Office, said the government should take greater responsibility for supporting displaced people and finding long-term solutions to their situation.
“It’s vital that the Government of South Sudan shoulder the responsibility to support the displaced community and provide them with security and a long-term solution,” Muhumure said.
The situation highlights the need for government authorities and humanitarian partners to strengthen flood preparedness before the peak of the rainy season.
Maintaining and reinforcing the dikes, improving drainage systems, and ensuring early-warning information reaches vulnerable communities could help reduce the impact of possible flooding.
Humanitarian agencies have also stressed the importance of contingency planning, particularly as reduced funding could limit the capacity to respond to emergencies after flooding occurs.
For communities that have repeatedly suffered the consequences of extreme weather, preparedness remains essential.
Any major breach of the flood defenses could expose thousands of people to displacement, disease, loss of property and disruption of basic services.
The growing risks in Unity State therefore present both a humanitarian and national responsibility, requiring sustained government leadership, community participation, and continued support from humanitarian partners to protect vulnerable populations.