On August 24th, thousands of victims of oil pollution in Melut county, which is located in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, launched an unprecedented and absolutely courageous demonstration. 

In a country regularly ranked as having one of the world’s five most repressive governments, the victims marched to the oil fields – to peacefully protest the poisoning of their water, land  and air by oil spills, leaks and fires. 

Deformation of newly-born babies and the ever-greater number of deformed children 

Lack of clean water 

All-pervasive pollution of environment 

Poor road 

Widespread unemployment, especially of youth