Desperate Measures: South Sudan’s Save the Nile Initiative Tackles Plastic Pollution
The lifeblood of South Sudan, the Nile River, is choking under an avalanche of plastic waste. Over 70 percent of plastic pollution in Juba consists of single-use plastics that are discharged into the Nile due to poorly managed waste, according to a study titled “Assessment of the Municipal Solid Waste Pollution Problem in Juba, South Sudan”. The intensifying crisis threatens aquatic life, human health, and livelihoods, exposing almost 691,000 inhabitants of Juba to danger, as reported by the South Sudan Bureau of Statistics in 2021.
Given the nature of this highly environmental hazard, the Save the Nile Initiative has mobilized local communities to take deliberate action for the river cleanup. Elder Deng Lado, a former resident of Juba, tours the river bordering it and watches as countless plastic bottles litter the waterway. “When I was just a little boy, we used to drink water directly from this river,” he recalls. “Now, it is more wasted; if we do nothing, the river will have disappeared for good.”
To compound this, Juba has not yet laid down a framework for proper waste management, so waste is still dumped indiscriminately around and in what is left of it, poisoning drinking water. Studies show that pollution in the Nile fosters an escalation of typhoid, cholera, and diarrheal diseases, posing a dire public health threat to inhabitants of the city.
To tackle this crisis, the Save the Nile Initiative has set up a major cleanup covering five miles on the banks of the river, targeting between 300 kilograms of plastic waste, which authorities expect will be cleaned up in a matter of half a year. The cleanup effort alone is not sufficient; the initiative is also raising awareness through social media and radio campaigns, creating awareness about the effects of plastics and the importance of sustainable waste disposal. Additionally, it is engaging schools and communities through workshops and outreach visits, focusing on teaching eco-alternatives and promoting responsible waste management, as well as building partnerships with government agencies, businesses, and environmental NGOs to amplify the outreach of the initiative.
While Save the Nile has effectively gathered volunteers, funds for cleanup tools and logistics remain major challenges. Because the project is not yet registered legally, they struggle to agree on partnerships with those requiring legal status. “We need support from local businesses, government agencies, and international partners in order to continue the project and possible expansion,” says Makur Majeng, Project Lead of Save the Nile. “This is no longer a mere cleanup; it is about protecting the Nile River for our future generations.”
The Save the Nile Initiative is calling upon all residents, environmental advocates, and politicians to take part. It believes that, through volunteering, donation, or advocacy, any little bit helps in protecting the Nile and providing for the people who depend on it.
