My land is a river now
Somewhere beneath the expanse of floodwater stretching beyond the horizon, lies William Yon Bol’s lost home and livelihood. His dead livestock and most of his possessions are waist-deep under the water which swept in one night three years ago.
His family waded and swam for hours to seek safety at Bentiu camp in South Sudan, planning to stay only until the waters subsided.
Yet the waters have not gone and the camp of 140,000 remains an island, stopped from being overwhelmed only by 40 miles of mud dykes and round-the-clock pumping.
Bentiu camp is an apocalyptic vision of vulnerable families in shelters besieged by nature. The surrounding Unity State is nearly the size of the Netherlands and is estimated to be 90 per cent flooded after unusually heavy rainy seasons. The camp was originally set up a decade ago to house those fleeing South Sudan’s own civil war. It then became a haven for those driven out by the flooding. In the past year its numbers have been boosted by South Sudanese refugees fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan
“My land is a river now,” says 74-year-old Mr Bol, looking at the waters. All 400 of his goats died in the first deluge and it has so upended the order of local life that he has been forced to switch from being a farmer to being a fisherman.
“All my livelihood has been lost,” he says.
Dak Manytai Latjor, a 51-year-old farmer who arrived in 2022, sees little improvement from when he first got to the camp.
He said: “Last year I rowed back to my land and it was all gone. I saw all my huts floating in the water. I was quite disappointed, it has been two years and nothing has changed.’
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A UN aircraft lands at Bentiu airstrip. When the road becomes impassable up to 20 flights a day are required to bring in supplies.
A child stands on the dyke protecting 140,000 inhabitants of Bentiu IDP camp.
Farmer William Yon Bol, 74, was forced to become a fisherman after his land was submerged under water.
Bentiu IDP camp, home to 140,000 displaced people. Children catch fish in the flooded grounds.
Children play on the dyke protecting 140,000 inhabitants of Bentiu IDP camp.
The dyke protecting 140,000 inhabitants of Bentiu IDP camp.
The only road connection in and out of Bentiu is constantly being reinforced by the UN.
Vegetable grower Bol Chuol Ngvak, 58, in his submerged garden.
Nyakuiy Puok Tut collects branches from dead trees to sell at market as firewood.
A blind man is led through the flood water by his daughter.
A boat-building workshop in the camp uses old plastic fuel drums to make canoes.
William Bol lost his livestock and livelihood in the floods.
An excavator collects earth to build up the dykes in hopes of holding back the flood water.
Displaced families wait for fresh water deliveries.