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Rubkona – Al-Wadi Newspaper
As thousands of families in Unity State continue to grapple with the impact of relentless flooding for over three years, humanitarian initiatives are stepping in with innovative, sustainable solutions aimed at strengthening community resilience and restoring hope for a better life.
In Rubkona County, Bakhita, a mother of four, recounts the hardship she faced after her village was submerged by floodwaters.
“When the floods came, we fled to the only dry place we could find. We had nothing. We gathered firewood just to sell some and buy food,” she says.
But for Bakhita and hundreds of other women, a ray of hope emerged through a World Food Programme (WFP) initiative that transforms water hyacinth—an invasive aquatic plant that clogs South Sudan’s waterways—into eco-friendly cooking fuel.
At WFP training centres in Rubkona, more than 2,400 people have been trained in the production of compressed charcoal briquettes, with over 400,000 units produced so far. These briquettes offer a safer, more affordable alternative to firewood and provide a new source of income for vulnerable families.
“What we’ve learned has eased our suffering,” says Bakhita. “We never imagined that water hyacinth could be turned into charcoal and stoves. Now we use it, we sell our products, and we’ve seen the impact first-hand.”
Through such initiatives, WFP is empowering local communities not only with aid but also with skills that help households move toward a more stable and self-reliant future in the face of climate change and repeated displacement.
This project stands as a model for sustainable development—one that integrates environmental protection, economic empowerment, and social cohesion—bringing renewed hope to those affected by natural disasters in a country still navigating its path to recovery.
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