A new documentary by South Sudan journalist Maura Ajak, aired by BBC Africa Eye, has brought to light the severe consequences of climate change and oil pollution in Unity State, South Sudan. The documentary, part of the BBC World Service series “Life at 50°C: Water Crisis,” investigates the most severe aspects of climate change in some of the hottest parts of the world.

Unity State, a major oil-producing region, has been on the frontline of climate change, experiencing extreme flooding that has affected hundreds of thousands of people. The Bentiu camp for displaced people, home to around 140,000 individuals, has been surrounded by water for nearly five years. Many residents have fled fighting, while others sought refuge after unprecedented floods began in 2019.

At the height of the flooding, two-thirds of the state was underwater, forcing people to forage for food, such as water lily roots, to supplement their UN rations. The situation has been further exacerbated by evidence that the floodwaters may contain pollution from the country’s oil industry.

The documentary highlights the plight of the camp’s residents, who are now facing a new threat: pollution from oil spills and mismanaged oil facilities. Former oil engineer David Bojo Leju revealed that flooding has washed pollution into water sources, posing a significant health risk to the already vulnerable inhabitants.

The “Life at 50°C: Water Crisis” series aims to shed light on the most severe aspects of climate change in regions where demand for water is already high, including South Sudan, Syria, Australia, and Colombia. The first season explored the consequences of living under extreme heat in ten countries, including Nigeria, Mexico, Pakistan, Mauritania, Kuwait, and Canada.

Watch the documentary here: