Malakal, South Sudan – August 4, 2025

Malakal’s residents face a critical shortage of clean water and sanitation, fueling health risks in the overcrowded UN Protection of Civilians site and surrounding areas. A REACH assessment found that nearly half of Malakal Town’s population spends over an hour fetching water due to limited functional water points. Most latrines are non-functional, and handwashing stations lack soap, contributing to cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks.

“We queue for hours for water, and it’s often dirty,” said Sarah Nyakuma, a 25-year-old mother in the PoC site. Floods have contaminated water sources, while conflict has damaged infrastructure, leaving 60% of South Sudanese practicing open defecation. The IOM is providing WASH services, but insecurity and underfunding limit reach.

The UN’s 2025 response plan seeks $200 million for WASH programs in South Sudan, with Malakal a priority. Experts warn that without urgent investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, Malakal risks further disease outbreaks, threatening thousands of lives.