The shepherds who collect **turbid water** from a small pond in the grasslands of **South Sudan** are very aware of the dangers they face if they drink it due to **oil contamination** and **chemicals**.
The **floods** in Unity State are carrying contamination from poorly managed **oil facilities**, becoming a **”silent killer”** that affects the population and livestock. The situation has been exacerbated by **climate change**, which has caused extreme and persistent rains since 2019 according to a report by [Noticias Ambientales](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/mas-50-muertos-dejan-las-inundaciones-en-espana-segun-el-informan-los-servicios-de-emergencia/).
## Health Issues and Water Contamination
Water contamination is making both people and livestock sick, with calves being born with deformities and an increase in congenital anomalies in humans. The lack of access to safe drinking water is a serious problem in the region.
Previous studies have shown high levels of **salinity and heavy metals in the water** near the oil wells, confirming contamination derived from oil production. Although the government has commissioned an **environmental audit**, the results have not yet been made public.
## Need for Environmental Accountability
Improving **environmental accountability** has been a low priority for South Sudan, a country heavily reliant on oil revenues and facing internal conflicts. It is necessary to keep a record of health cases and effectively address contamination to **protect the population and the environment**.
Despite established laws and institutions, accountability for oil contamination in South Sudan is not strict. Bojo Leju, a former oil engineer, highlighted the **dangers of addressing this issue**, as oil is vital for the government.
In 2020, lawyers from South Sudan contacted Leju to sue the government for **oil contamination**. However, he was detained and forced to retract before fleeing the country and seeking asylum in Sweden.
## Impact of Climate Change
Dr. Chris Funk, director of the Climate Hazards Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, explained that the record **sea surface temperatures** in 2019 and the extreme rains in **East Africa** are linked to climate change. Extreme precipitation in South Sudan could become more common, **affecting the habitability** of some areas.
Despite concerns about **floods and contamination**, the local population hopes to return to raising animals and farming the land. In Roriak, children build miniature villages, while near Bentiu, an elderly woman continues to grind **water lily roots** next to the floodwaters, dreaming of a better future.
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