The government of South Sudan has ordered the closure of schools for two weeks due to escalating heatwave caused by climate change.
The directive, effective from Friday, follows reports of more than 12 students collapsing daily in Juba city.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Vice President Josephine Joseph Lagu, following an evaluation of reports from the Ministries of Health, Environment, and Education regarding the heatwave, which is expected to persist for over two weeks.
In a joint media statement after the discussions, Minister of Environment and Forestry of South Sudan, Josephine Napwon Cosmos, cautioned the public about the dangers of the heatwave, urging citizens to take the warnings seriously.
Minister Napwon said her ministry wrote to the president on the dangers posed by the heatwaves.
“Juba and most parts of South Sudan are experiencing a heatwave, it is forecasted that it will last for at least two weeks or more. Therefore it is critical to take proper safety measures during humid and hot periods,” she said.
She stated that excessive heat is becoming a serious issue due to climate change, adding that high temperatures ranging from 39°C to 42°C are expected for the next two weeks or longer.
“The Ministry of Education is to close schools for two weeks or more they will be reopened when cool temperatures return. The Ministry of Education is to consider opening schools in the second week of March instead of February based on the weather changes,” she said.
She further advises that government institutions should operate on a half-day basis and residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities.
Meanwhile, Acting Minister of Health Aya Warille and Deputy Minister of General Education Martin Tako Moi emphasized that the decision aligns with the government's commitment to prioritizing public safety.
Last year, schools were closed due to an extreme heatwave caused by climate change, the government-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation Television (SSBC TV), based in Juba.