More than two million people in 8 states of South Sudan have been affected by heavy flooding since the start of this year.
“Eight out of the 10 States in South Sudan are currently flooded, and over 2 million people are internally displaced and have lost their livelihoods,” said Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information and Postal Services during the inauguration of the regional research observatory for the environment and climate change in Djibouti on Sunday.
Makuei disclosed that besides flooding, droughts, excessive heat, heat waves, and haphazard rain patterns have resulted in crop failure thus impacting the livelihoods of these people.
“Over 60 percent of our people are now categorized as food insecure. Therefore, life-saving interventions are needed urgently, else the prospect of climate-induced displacement and climate refugees will become a new normal,” said Makuei.
He disclosed that the government is currently developing cost-effective nature-based solutions to address recurring droughts, floods, land degradation, deforestation, crop failure, and bio-diversity loss.
“Therefore, the establishment and inauguration of this Regional Research Observatory are pivotal for Climate Research, the collection and generation of countries specific data,” said Makuei.
South Sudan is experiencing floods for the fourth consecutive year, and they are now affecting nine of its 10 states, according to the U.N Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
