In response to an anticipated two-week extreme heat wave, South Sudan has announced the closure of all schools starting Monday. The health and education ministries have issued a warning advising parents to keep their children indoors as temperatures are expected to reach a scorching 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).
The ministries have made it clear that any school found open during this period will risk having its registration withdrawn. While the exact duration of the school closures was not specified in the statement released late Saturday, officials have assured the public that they will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates accordingly.
Residents, such as Peter Garang from the capital city of Juba, have expressed support for the decision to close schools. Garang suggested that schools should be equipped with air conditioning systems, emphasizing the need for better infrastructure to cope with extreme weather conditions.
South Sudan, a nation that has been grappling with civil conflict and environmental challenges, is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. While heat waves are not uncommon in the region, temperatures rarely exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
The World Food Program has highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis facing South Sudan, attributing it to a combination of factors including violence, economic instability, climate change, and an influx of refugees from neighboring countries. In January alone, over 818,000 vulnerable individuals in South Sudan received food assistance and cash-based support to address their urgent needs.
