From flood risk to resilience: Practical flood adaptation strategies for refugee settlements in Ethiopia and South Sudan

This report outlines practical, evidence-based flood risk reduction strategies for two displacement settings in East Africa: Kule Refugee Camp in Ethiopia and Renk Transit Centre in South Sudan. Centring disaster risk reduction, it documents how increasingly intense rainfall, limited drainage, and rapid site establishment have heightened exposure, and shows how climate variability is likely to amplify these pressures. Drawing on field observations, community knowledge, hydrological modelling, and cost–benefit analysis, the study explains why both sites flood, how impacts differ, and which factors drive persistent risk. 

The publication recommends prioritising connected, well-maintained drainage systems as the most cost‑effective adaptation measure, with structural elevation applied selectively to critical facilities. It emphasises the need for phased, realistic upgrades that reflect local conditions, past interventions, and operational constraints. The study also highlights the value of a standardised assessment workflow that can be replicated across camps, enabling transparent, evidence‑based investment decisions. Strengthening local maintenance capacity, addressing site‑specific bottlenecks, and integrating climate variability into planning emerge as key lessons for improving safety, access, and service continuity in flood‑prone refugee settlements.