South Sudan declared the indefinite closure of all schools on Saturday in response to soaring temperatures experienced over recent days.

Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister for Health, cited the prevailing heatwave affecting most parts of the country, with temperatures soaring between 41 to 45 degrees Celsius, expected to persist for at least two weeks.

Addressing reporters in Juba, the capital, Awel emphasized the government’s decision to implement preventative measures. These include the closure of all schools from March 18 onwards.

Additionally, parents were advised to limit outdoor activities for children, particularly young ones, and monitor them closely for signs of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Awel underscored the acute impact of heatwaves on large populations, often triggering public health emergencies and leading to excess mortality. She highlighted the socioeconomic consequences, including loss of work capacity, labour productivity, and disruption of health service delivery due to power shortages accompanying heatwaves.

Joseph Africano Bartel, Undersecretary for Environment in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, emphasized the global phenomenon of climate change and its manifestation in South Sudan through temperature fluctuations.

He recommended measures for schools to mitigate the impact, including ensuring proper ventilation, installing solar panels for electricity, and planting trees to create microclimates.

Africano called upon developed nations to reduce emissions, cautioning that South Sudan would soon face the unprecedented effects of climate change, including heavy rains, floods, and droughts.