Birth defects surge in South Sudan

Rick Steiner is an oil pollution consultant.

“So these companies have this model for doing oil and gas development in these developing Third World nations, and that is to go in, buy the government or otherwise ally themselves with the government, get no regulations on them, very favorable tax and royalty regimes, and do whatever they want to make as much profit as they want quickly, and then leave. And that’s kind of the model that they’re imposing on South Sudan. And it’s really a tragedy for the people there and for the environment”, Steiner said.

Birth defects around oil fields in Unity State almost tripled between 2015 and 2017, according to an environmental report by a local advocacy group seen by AP. It has not yet been published because the research is ongoing.

Neither Dar nor Greater Pioneer responded to the AP’s requests for comment. Oil Minister Awow Daniel Chuang calls links between the contamination and birth defects “premature speculations.”

Geer says he has yet to see his son’s medical tests for himself. But he says things like this weren’t happening before the oil companies.

“Because even the cattle, the animals like goats and cows have also been born like this in our towns in Ruweng State are all affected like my boy,” he says.

The World Health Organization and others say exposure to oil and drilling-related chemicals can be harmful to unborn children.