Climate Resilience: Tackling flood risks in South Sudan
82% of climate and weather-related deaths between 1970 and 2019 took place in developing countries. This crisis can be seen in South Sudan, where floods wreak havoc, causing displacement, loss of life, habitat destruction, and substantial economic losses.
To address the issue, the European Space Agency (ESA) Global Development Assistance (GDA) Agile EO Information Development (AID) Climate Resilience team collaborated with GMV and the World Bank.
In addition to Earth Observation-based data from Sentinel-1 and VIIRS sensors to calculate flooding maps, the team used other global datasets to accurately track flood extent, frequency, and duration.
Telespazio, another project partner, analysed precipitation trends across the country and transboundary basins. Their findings are vital in assisting the country’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) to mitigate flood impacts and move away from manual estimations to data-driven decision-making for targeted flood interventions on the ground. The use of Earth Observation (EO) technology is a game-changer for advancing the country’s development towards a more climate-resilient future.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
82% of climate and weather-related deaths between 1970 and 2019 took place in developing countries. This crisis can be seen in South Sudan, where floods wreak havoc, causing displacement, loss of life, habitat destruction, and substantial economic losses.
To address the issue, the European Space Agency (ESA) Global Development Assistance (GDA) Agile EO Information Development (AID) Climate Resilience team collaborated with GMV and the World Bank.
In addition to Earth Observation-based data from Sentinel-1 and VIIRS sensors to calculate flooding maps, the team used other global datasets to accurately track flood extent, frequency, and duration.
Telespazio, another project partner, analysed precipitation trends across the country and transboundary basins. Their findings are vital in assisting the country’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) to mitigate flood impacts and move away from manual estimations to data-driven decision-making for targeted flood interventions on the ground. The use of Earth Observation (EO) technology is a game-changer for advancing the country’s development towards a more climate-resilient future.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
South Sudan, ranked 7th globally in the share of its population exposed to river floods, faces considerable challenges in preparing for and managing floods due to socioeconomic constraints. These challenges include political instability, poor governance and corruption. A lack of monitoring infrastructure and effective models compounds the issue. Authorities also lack enough information to develop effective flood management strategies and allocate resources. Insufficient access to financial services also limits a response.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
South Sudan, ranked 7th globally in the share of its population exposed to river floods, faces considerable challenges in preparing for and managing floods due to socioeconomic constraints. These challenges include political instability, poor governance and corruption. A lack of monitoring infrastructure and effective models compounds the issue. Authorities also lack enough information to develop effective flood management strategies and allocate resources. Insufficient access to financial services also limits a response.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
To tackle these challenges and bridge the information gap, the team examined long-term rainfall data from satellites and ground-based observations to identify unusual rainfall patterns and understand their connection to flooding. They used EO data to create maps illustrating flood hazards, rainfall trends, and anomalies on a regional scale. The resulting detailed flood information proved beneficial for local groups and communities, offering insights into flood hazards and guidance on preparedness. Looking closely at specific areas revealed essential details about how long floods last, the population exposed to flooding, and roads and farmland affected by flooding events.
The project's results highlighted the relationship between rainfall over Lake Victoria and flooding in South Sudan. These findings were significant for water resource discussions between the Government of South Sudan and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission on sustainable development and resource management in the Upper White Nile Basin. The EO analysis helped the MWRI to obtain a comprehensive flood hazard map for the country and identify flood patterns in specific sub-basins. This will be critical for future decision-making and investment in priority areas.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
To tackle these challenges and bridge the information gap, the team examined long-term rainfall data from satellites and ground-based observations to identify unusual rainfall patterns and understand their connection to flooding. They used EO data to create maps illustrating flood hazards, rainfall trends, and anomalies on a regional scale. The resulting detailed flood information proved beneficial for local groups and communities, offering insights into flood hazards and guidance on preparedness. Looking closely at specific areas revealed essential details about how long floods last, the population exposed to flooding, and roads and farmland affected by flooding events.
The project's results highlighted the relationship between rainfall over Lake Victoria and flooding in South Sudan. These findings were significant for water resource discussions between the Government of South Sudan and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission on sustainable development and resource management in the Upper White Nile Basin. The EO analysis helped the MWRI to obtain a comprehensive flood hazard map for the country and identify flood patterns in specific sub-basins. This will be critical for future decision-making and investment in priority areas.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
The WB will continue using EO for project monitoring and developing flood and drought hazard maps for South Sudan.
For example, building on the support provided through GDA, the WB has mobilised additional funding for complementary activities. The corresponding WB project, led by GMV, is set to enhance South Sudan's EO capabilities, integrating flood and drought analyses into a comprehensive Water Information Management System (WIMS). This initiative includes refining flood and drought hazard maps and incorporating ancillary EO datasets to manage water effectively.
Online training and demonstrations for end users will boost the uptake of EO products and services. IT upgrades and improved data management skills within the ministry are also foreseen.
“Both the World Bank and the MWRI understand the value of EO services, particularly in a country affected by fragility, conflicts, and violence. The challenges include limited capabilities for ground measurements, high vulnerability to floods in magnitude and persistence, a vulnerable population, and restricted national capacity for disaster risk reduction,” says Alex Chunet, ESA Representative to the World Bank.
“Efforts are underway to strengthen national capabilities by integrating EO for effective flood management through various World Bank-financed operations, including the Regional Climate Resilience Project. Steps are being taken to seamlessly incorporate these practices into project activities, thereby contributing to the overall development and resilience of the ministry and the country as a whole,” he/she added.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
The WB will continue using EO for project monitoring and developing flood and drought hazard maps for South Sudan.
For example, building on the support provided through GDA, the WB has mobilised additional funding for complementary activities. The corresponding WB project, led by GMV, is set to enhance South Sudan's EO capabilities, integrating flood and drought analyses into a comprehensive Water Information Management System (WIMS). This initiative includes refining flood and drought hazard maps and incorporating ancillary EO datasets to manage water effectively.
Online training and demonstrations for end users will boost the uptake of EO products and services. IT upgrades and improved data management skills within the ministry are also foreseen.
“Both the World Bank and the MWRI understand the value of EO services, particularly in a country affected by fragility, conflicts, and violence. The challenges include limited capabilities for ground measurements, high vulnerability to floods in magnitude and persistence, a vulnerable population, and restricted national capacity for disaster risk reduction,” says Alex Chunet, ESA Representative to the World Bank.
“Efforts are underway to strengthen national capabilities by integrating EO for effective flood management through various World Bank-financed operations, including the Regional Climate Resilience Project. Steps are being taken to seamlessly incorporate these practices into project activities, thereby contributing to the overall development and resilience of the ministry and the country as a whole,” he/she added.
Location
South Sudan
Institutions
People Impacted
Over four consecutive years, one million people were impacted by devastating floods.
Conclusion
The partnership between ESA and WB is a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration in tackling the urgent challenges of climate change. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and strategic planning, the partners address current flood risks and help South Sudan prepare for an uncertain climatic future.
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