Located near the Sudan border, Bentiu—the capital of Unity State in South Sudan—has transformed from a small village into a massive camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), sheltering over 140,000 people since 2013 due to war and violence. Several UN agencies, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), operate the Protection of Civilians (POC) camp there, which now resembles a permanent settlement.

The region faces a growing environmental crisis linked to the devastating 2021 floods. A geospatial analysis revealed that 159 out of more than 400 oil wells—about 41% of the area's oil extraction infrastructure—were submerged during the floods. Unity State, South Sudan's largest oil-producing area, now contends with toxic water contamination as floodwaters mobilize pollutants.

Local residents, including Anna Nyashing Bul, have been forced to relocate within the area due to flooding. Bul told Deutsche Welle that she and her family evacuated to Rotriak "because it was the only place that remained dry" after the 2021 floods. Despite the contamination, residents continue to rely on local fish for food. Simon Gatkuoth, a camp resident, explained that fish caught near the oil fields are contaminated, noting, "When we cook them, the soup sometimes smells like penicillin."

The White Nile river, which flows past Bentiu, has been affected by water releases from Lake Victoria in neighboring Uganda, where rising lake levels necessitated large water discharges. This has contributed to the flooding and pollution challenges in Unity State.

Environmental monitoring and public health standards remain inadequate in South Sudan's oil-producing areas, even 15 years after the country's independence. Many animals have died due to pollution, and local people report symptoms they associate with the contamination, although sufficient epidemiological studies are lacking.

Residents express no alternative but to consume the contaminated food and water, underscoring the urgent need for effective solutions to address these intertwined environmental and humanitarian challenges.

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