Schools in South Sudan were forced to shut down on Monday due to an intense heatwave causing temperatures to soar above 40 degrees. It is forecasted that this extreme weather condition will persist for two weeks. The health and education authorities have issued a notification advising parents to restrain their children from venturing outdoors and assured continued monitoring of the situation along with regular public updates. Being a landlocked nation in East Africa with a population nearing 11 million, South Sudan has had to face severe flooding episodes in the recent past.
“The increasing impact of climate change on the children of South Sudan is evident,” commented Pornpun Rabiltossaporn from Save the Children, an international aid organisation. She emphasised the pressing need for joint efforts to amplify adaptation and resilience against recurring climate emergencies that severely impact children. Notably, educational disruption is already an issue in this region with a staggering 2.8 million children, equating to 70 per cent of the child population, missing out on schooling.
Post gaining independence in 2011, the nation descended into a prolonged civil conflict starting in 2012, leading to the deaths of over 400,000 individuals. The most recent peace treaty was finalised in 2018, and the plan is to conduct elections by the end of the current year, albeit certain prerequisites have yet to be addressed.
According to the Crisis Group, an international think tank, South Sudan exemplifies a frail state where the adverse effects of climate-induced change, including displacement, are heightened due to political instability and inefficient governance. These factors inhibit climate resilience, hinder humanitarian aid, and spur communal tension.
Yearly, between 750,000 to over a million individuals find themselves impacted by floods, as per Unicef. In 2021, a mere 8 per cent of South Sudan’s residents had access to electricity, based on data from the World Bank. Furthermore, around 70 per cent lack basic healthcare, and almost 9 million require humanitarian aid, while it is forecasted that about 56 per cent will contend with severe food scarcity during the lean period from April to July 2024.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicated in its most recent report that weather, climate, and water-related risks directly impacted over 110 million individuals across Africa in 2022.
Sally Hayden states that the majority of international migrants are moving legally for employment reasons, however, climate change might bring about a shift in this trend. Even though Africa’s global greenhouse gas emissions account only for less than 10 percent, the continent is unable to withstand the adverse consequences of climate change. WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas expresses that severe weather conditions like heatwaves, heavy downpours, floods, tropical storms, and extended periods of drought are wreaking havoc on local societies and economies, thereby increasing the risk for more people. It’s important to note that several statistics indicate Africa’s contribution to worldwide emissions is at a meagre 4% or less. In separate reports, there is an increasing body of evidence indicating that the single most environmentally harmful human activity is militarism, and while Africa’s climate-sensitive population is resilient, support is a necessity, as affirmed by an ambassador for Concern.