top of page

South Sudan Climate Crisis

Writer: ecotipsblogecotipsblog
Apr 13, 20234 min read

Abnormal flooding leaves South Sudan in devastation.



Since late July, South Sudan has been experiencing an abnormally long and harsh rainy season due to global warming. While seasonal flooding and lengthy rainy seasons are a normality in South Sudan, they’re only expected once a year. Recently however, only 5 month periods separate this season, providing scarce time for water to recede before the next rainy season begins. Since this nation is very new and still developing, the recent climate crisis occurring in South Sudan has greatly exacerbated it’s instability. In an interview with CNN reporter Clarissa Ward, South Sudan’s Deputy Director for Climate Change, John Payai Manyok, explains, “While its [South Sudan’s] neighboring countries move ahead building dams and more permanent dikes, South Sudan has failed to adapt and remains at the mercy of its rivers.”




Many countries in Africa have been experiencing a recent climate crisis, but why is South Sudan being hit particularly hard? This nation is known as the world’s youngest country, having gained independence only a decade ago, in 2011. For this reason, South Sudan has been given very little time to fully develop. Additionally, this nation has spent 7 out of the 10 years that it’s been independent immersed in civil war, thus one can infer the instability of this country. Because of this, even minor disturbances can make a large impact, putting into perspective how extremely far this nation plunged into instability when an entire natural disaster hit them. South Sudan was vastly unprepared to handle the excessive flooding, quite literally drowning them in destruction. Besides the lack of stability and time it has had to develop, “Food insecurity, conflict, diminished human rights and financial problems aggravated by Covid-19 have eroded its [South Sudan’s] capacity to cope with recurring extreme weather events such as flooding,” according to Susan Martinez of The Guardian. Although this explains factors as to why this climate crisis has exceptionally burdened South Sudan, it excludes the account for the unusual increase in severity of flooding. Geographical location, climate, and climate change are all factors responsible for this anomaly which gradually is turning into more of a commonality. “The Horn of Africa and its surrounding countries will experience extreme rainfall, making it more susceptible to flooding. That's largely because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, which triggers more rain,” reports Clarissa Ward, indicating that as global warming progresses, so will rainfall and flood vulnerability. Global warming has caused the frequency, length, and intensity of droughts in South Sudan to increase as well. Ward explains the relationship between “drought followed by extreme rainfall, which together create prime conditions for devastating floods.” After an intense drought, soil dries and hardens, preventing water absorption, further yielding more runoff. This further amplifies the potency of a flood, and can even be the main trigger of a flood. The takeaways from this climate disaster are evident. We can use this incident as a learning experience for all nations even beyond South Sudan. The drastic effect this flood had on residents exemplifies the need for proper investment in disaster relief and preparedness, as well as taking preemptive steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as the progression of climate change. Such steps include reducing national carbon emissions. In a press release, UNICEF urges that, “To avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis, comprehensive and urgent action is required. Countries must cut their emissions by at least 45% (compared to 2010 levels) by 2030 to keep warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.”




The changing environment has placed a great strain on the lives of South Sudan citizens. The recent flood has displaced and forced an exodus of hundreds of thousands. To be exact, 90% of land in South Sudan and 850,000 people have been impacted by the flooding, and 350,000 of them have been displaced. People have endangered themselves and even risked their lives in the endeavor to flee this already deadly climate crisis. Ward reports, “The women were left to push for four days in the hope of reaching higher ground. Along the way, their food ran out, said one of the women, named Nereka. Her 5-month-old baby wails as she talks [:] ‘Of course, I'm worried about my children,’ she said. ‘That's why we keep moving.’ ” Due to the amount of homes completely wrecked or submerged in water, camps have been set up to provide temporary shelter to displaced citizens. The organization Doctors Without Borders set up hospitals within these camps. Since the floods depleted most resources, creating widespread food insecurity, malnourishment rates have skyrocketed. In the past month, 130 cases of malnourishment in children have been recorded, compared to 30-40 cases in previous months. Additionally, this climate crisis has caused the destruction or shutdown of over 500 schools, according to UNICEF. South Sudan is no stranger to instability and chaos. Since establishment, brutal conflict has overwhelmed this nation. Climate change and natural disasters were also very prevalent, but considered an issue secondary to the South Sudanese civil war. As conflict has eased, this secondary issue has taken the front line. Ward says, “For years, South Sudan has been experiencing wetter-than-normal wet seasons, while its dry seasons are becoming even drier.” However, up until a few years ago, the frequency of flooding in South Sudan would have been unprecedented. Ward goes on to say, “Officials in Unity State say they haven't seen anything on this scale since the early 1960s.” South Sudan is a prime example of the progressive toll climate change is taking on the world. Globally, Earth has warmed 1.2 degrees (Celcius) since the beginning of industrialization, and is projected to warm more rapidly in the coming decades.








References-



The rising cost of the climate crisis in flooded South Sudan – in pictures.




Ward, C., & Brent Swails and Scott McWhinniePhotographs by Brent Swails. (2021, December 7).


The world's newest nation is both drying up and drowning. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/06/africa/south-sudan-floods-climate-cmd-intl/index.html




 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page