South Sudan: Abandoned Oilfield a Toxic Wasteland in South Sudan

Mar 4, 2015 | Al Jazeera
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The Thar Jath oilfield in South Sudan's war-torn Unity state has been abandoned.

The unmaintained facility, which lies inside rebel-held territory, is slowly rotting and leaking toxic oil into the earth.

According to rebel soldiers stationed in the area, international employees deserted the oilfield in August 2013, four months before civil war broke out in South Sudan.

Researchers from German aid group Sign of Hope and water drilling experts African Water Ltd have released the results of an extensive investigation showing that drinking water sources for at least 180,000 people in Unity state have been contaminated by oil exploration and production here.

Wells dug for communities contain water with salt levels so high that it is undrinkable. Abnormal heavy metal deposits such as lead and zinc were also found in the water supply.