Starting Monday, the South Sudanese government is closing down all schools as the country braces itself for a two-week heatwave. In a statement released on Saturday, the health and education ministries advised parents to keep their children indoors as temperatures are expected to reach up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). The ministries warned that any school that violates the directive would have its registration withdrawn. However, they did not specify how long the schools would remain closed. The situation is being closely monitored by the ministries, who will inform the public about any further developments.
Peter Garang, a Juba resident, welcomed the decision and suggested that schools should be connected to the electricity grid so that air conditioners could be installed. South Sudan, which is one of the world's youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Heatwaves are common, but temperatures rarely exceed 40 degrees Celsius. The country has been plagued by civil conflict, drought, and flooding, making living conditions difficult for residents.
According to the latest country brief from the World Food Program, South Sudan "continues to face a dire humanitarian crisis" due to economic instability, climate change, violence, and an influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan. The report also stated that in January 2024, 818,000 vulnerable people received food and cash-based transfers.
