Slideshow - Ethiopia: Surviving in flooded a refugee camp

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A group of refugees fleeing violence in South Sudan cross the Baro River to arrive in Ethiopia.

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The Baro River marks the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. During the rainy season the river level rises and the water floods the surrounding areas.

Leitchuor camp, near the Baro River, is flooded during the rainy season. Over 47,000 South Sudanese refugees are gathered here. The floods due to the rainy season have exacerbated the daily living conditions of the refugees.

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People cross through the flooded camp with their livestock.

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World Food Programme aircraft at the Gambella airport. The food distributed to the refugees comes here before it is routed to the camps in the surroundings area of Gambella.

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Refugees survive on the swamp water in Leitchuor camp. The level of water or mud can go up to ankle height.

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Pam, 23, has fled South Sudan and has been living in Leitchuor camp since April. He explains that with onset of the rainy season the camp has flooded, latrines have overflowed and he is now living in the middle of smelly mud. His four year-old daughter is sick due to the harsh living conditions.

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Patients inside MSF clinic in Leitchuor camp. MSF is the only medical organization permanently based in the camp. MSF makes an average of over 800 consultations per week mainly for malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhea due to the harsh living conditions in the camp.

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Young South Sudanese refugees in Leitchuor camp play next to the area where people cross from one dry part of the camp to another.

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During the rainy season, helicopters and boats are the only ways for humanitarian organizations to reach Leitchuor camp.

November 17, 2014

Since the start of the conflict in South Sudan, mid December 2013, more than 1,400,000 people have been internally displaced and more than 450,000 have sought refuge in the neighbouring countries, including 190,000 in Gambella region, western Ethiopia. The rainy season has temporarily slowed the stream of people arriving into the camps but flooding has exacerbated the daily life conditions of the refugees. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is the only medical organization permanently based in Leitchuor camp and makes over 800 consultations per week mainly for malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhea due to the harsh living conditions in the camp.