In anticipation of a severe heat wave predicted to last two weeks, South Sudan has announced the closure of all schools from Monday onwards.
Parents have been advised by the health and education ministries to keep their children indoors as temperatures are forecasted to rise to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).
The ministries have warned that any school found operating during this period will have its registration revoked. However, the statement released late on Saturday did not specify the duration of the school closures.
The ministries have committed to ongoing monitoring of the situation and will keep the public informed.
Peter Garang, a resident of the capital city, Juba, has expressed his support for the decision. He suggested that “schools should be connected to the electricity grid” to facilitate the use of air conditioners.
South Sudan has approximately 8,000 primary schools, 120 secondary schools, and 12 universities (5 public and 7 private).
Humanitarian crisis
South Sudan, one of the youngest countries globally, is especially susceptible to the climate crisis, with heat waves being a common occurrence but seldom surpassing 40 C (104 F).
The East African nation has been beset by civil conflict and has also experienced drought and flooding, exacerbating the living conditions for its residents.
According to the latest country brief from the World Food Program, South Sudan is in the midst of a “dire humanitarian crisis” due to violence, economic instability, climate change, and an influx of refugees from the conflict in neighboring Sudan.
The report also noted that food and cash-based transfers were provided to 818,000 individuals identified as vulnerable in January.
