Severe flooding in South Sudan has resulted in the displacement of over 226,000 people and has heavily impacted health services, with numerous health facilities submerged. The WHO is actively engaged in providing emergency health kits and addressing the rising cases of malaria and cholera amid the crisis, which has been exacerbated by climate change.
On October 21, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that South Sudan is experiencing some of the worst flooding in decades, leading to significant humanitarian challenges. This flooding has resulted in the displacement of over 226,000 individuals and has heavily impacted homes and livelihoods, with infrastructure such as roads submerged. The United Nations has indicated that 42 of South Sudan’s 78 counties have been affected, with around 58 health facilities currently submerged and nearly 90 more deemed inaccessible. Furthermore, 15 main roads, critical for reaching the capital of Juba where higher-level health services are located, are cut off. By October 4, 2024, approximately 890,000 individuals in flood-affected areas were reported to be impacted by the catastrophic conditions. While substantial rainfall is expected during the rainy season from April to November, recent incidences of flooding have intensified due to climate change, posing ongoing challenges for communities already facing severe hardships. The floods have further complicated the existing humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, where nearly 800,000 refugees and returnees have fled armed conflict from Sudan. Compounding this crisis, two suspected cholera cases have emerged in Renk County, a major entry point for refugees. Malaria cases have also surged, with over 120,000 cases and 31 suspected fatalities reported by the end of September. Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, the WHO Representative in South Sudan, emphasized that “people are in a heightened state of vulnerability due to multiple shocks” and reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and partners to deliver essential health services amidst escalating humanitarian needs. In response to the flooding, the WHO has distributed approximately 88 metric tonnes of emergency health kits across critical locations such as Renk, Bentiu, Malakal, and Bor, sufficient to treat over 870,000 individuals. These kits include vital medical supplies, including interagency emergency health kits, cholera investigation and treatment kits, antimalarial drugs, and snakebite antivenoms. Moreover, WHO has deployed nearly 1,300 malaria kits countrywide and prepositioned kits for cholera investigation and rapid diagnostics. WHO continues to work with South Sudan’s Ministry of Health to escalate the response to this multifaceted health emergency, ensuring cooperation with partner organizations to monitor health impacts and mitigate risks associated with vector-borne and water-borne diseases, as well as to facilitate essential health assistance to those in need. The agency also actively supports countries in developing strategies to address climate and environmental challenges impacting health systems while advocating for sustainable investments to strengthen resilient health infrastructure against future climate disruptions.
The flooding in South Sudan has been exacerbated by heavy rainfall, which traditionally occurs during the country’s rainy season. Climate change has heightened the frequency and intensity of such flooding, leading to unprecedented humanitarian crises. The current situation has displaced large populations, further straining a healthcare system already under pressure from conflicts and health emergencies like cholera and malaria. The WHO’s efforts are critical in providing immediate health support while planning for long-term resilience against climate impacts.
The severe flooding in South Sudan represents a multifaceted health crisis where immediate action is required to address both the immediate health needs of the displaced populations and the broader implications of climate change on public health. WHO’s interventions, including emergency healthcare distributions and health monitoring, are essential to alleviate the situation while advocating for sustainable solutions to strengthen the resilience of health systems against future environmental challenges.
Original Source: sudantribune.com
