South Sudan’s Unity State Faces Rising Flood Threat as Communities Seek UN Support

Communities in South Sudan’s Unity State are appealing for continued support as recurring violence and the threat of severe flooding deepen an already serious humanitarian crisis.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has maintained its presence in the area after the head of UNMISS witnessed the security challenges facing communities and decided to defer plans to close a UN base in Abiemnhom.

On 1 March 2026, residents of the remote Abiemnhom area were awakened by heavy gunfire when the town came under attack. Thousands of people fled to a nearby UN base, where Mongolian peacekeepers opened their gates and provided protection and medical assistance to injured civilians.

UNMISS later reported that its peacekeepers provided physical protection to around 1,500 civilians in Abiemnom after tensions escalated and attacks occurred.

Many families remain displaced after homes and crops were burned or looted during the violence. Residents also continue to fear further attacks and say the presence of UN peacekeepers remains important to their safety.

Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UNMISS Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said communities had been particularly concerned about the possible departure of the UN mission.

She said residents feared they would become more vulnerable without the UN presence and that she had assured them UNMISS would continue working to protect civilians while supporting efforts to address communal violence.

UNMISS has continued patrols, community engagement and support for reconciliation and peacebuilding initiatives despite financial pressures affecting peacekeeping operations.

Flooding adds to security concerns

The security situation is being compounded by the threat of further flooding as South Sudan enters another challenging rainy season.

During a visit to Unity State, Gbeho met local authorities, communities and peacekeepers to assess the challenges facing the region. She highlighted security concerns, communal violence and the growing amount of water around Bentiu.

Unity State has experienced severe flooding repeatedly since 2019, with large areas of land remaining submerged during successive rainy seasons. The United Nations says more than 1 million people across South Sudan were affected by flooding in 2025, with Unity and Jonglei states accounting for 87% of those affected.

Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, remains surrounded by extensive floodwaters, while the city’s displacement camp shelters more than 109,000 people. The wider state is home to about 455,000 internally displaced people.

The continuing rise in water levels has placed additional pressure on the extensive network of dykes constructed and maintained by UNMISS, the government and humanitarian organisations.

UN peacekeepers have continued strengthening the dykes and monitoring water levels to protect communities. In March 2026, UNMISS said large parts of Bentiu had remained submerged since 2020, with around 300,000 people living on a narrow stretch of higher ground protected by the flood barriers.

Nyier Gatchang Pouch, chairperson of the Community High Committee in the Bentiu displacement camp, said local communities did not have the resources needed to prevent flooding themselves.

She called for government leadership in repairing and strengthening the dykes, improving drainage systems and preparing evacuation routes before water levels reach dangerous levels.

Communities call for stronger flood protection

Residents say the scale of the flooding is beyond their ability to manage without outside assistance. They are seeking greater investment in flood-control infrastructure and preparedness measures to protect homes, farmland and livelihoods.

The United Nations has already been working with South Sudanese authorities and humanitarian partners on flood preparedness, dyke construction and land reclamation. In Unity State, these efforts are also linked to plans aimed at helping displaced people return, relocate or integrate safely.

The UN says flooding has become closely connected to displacement, food insecurity, competition over resources and local conflict in South Sudan. Climate-related pressures are increasingly being incorporated into UNMISS peacebuilding and protection efforts.

For communities in Unity State, however, the immediate concern remains survival as flooding threatens to further restrict movement, damage livelihoods and increase humanitarian needs.

UNMISS says it will continue working with communities, authorities and humanitarian partners to prepare for emerging threats and strengthen civilian protection.

For Gbeho, addressing the region’s overlapping security and environmental challenges ultimately depends on peace.

“When we talk about overcoming the multitude of concerns, my answer is that the foundation for this lies in peace,” she said.