With funding from UNHCR, AIRD South Sudan has launched a major flood preparedness program across refugee camps in Maban County, Upper Nile State.
The initiative is designed to prevent floodwaters from entering refugee camps by constructing protective dykes ahead of the heavy rains. Since August 2025, AIRD has dug 9.5 kilometers of dykes across the Kaya and Doro refugee camps. These temporary soil barriers, raised to a height of 2.5 meters, divert floodwaters away from residential areas, protecting lives and property.

The host communities in Maban are also benefiting, as flood-prone water streams and blocked trenches in residential areas have been opened to safely channel excess water. This intervention not only safeguards lives, homes, and livelihoods but also secures businesses and farmlands.
Maban County has faced severe flooding in recent years, displacing thousands of refugees and host community members, damaging farmland, property, road networks, and water sources, and disrupting humanitarian services.

The county’s cotton soil and flat terrain, worsened by deforestation for charcoal and firewood, make it highly prone to flooding between August and October.

This project is expected to protect over 132,768 refugees in Kaya (32,890) and Doro (99,878) camps, out of the 209,425 refugees currently hosted in Maban’s four camps (Kaya, Batil, Doro, and Gendressa (UNHCR October 2024).
By taking early action, this flood preparedness project is ensuring safety, resilience, and protection for both refugees and host communities in Maban County.