Climate change and flooding
Responding to the needs of growing number of children and families affected by floods
Challenge
Floods are affecting an increasing number of people
Floods have worsened over the past years as South Sudan is suffering increasingly from the consequences of climate change. Floods are affecting every year between 750,000 and more than one million people, forcing half of them to leave their homeland to higher grounds.
Floods affect mostly areas along the Nile and Lol rivers and Sudd marshlands. In recent years up to half of all counties in South Sudan were affected by the floods. Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States are the hardest hit, representing three quarters of the affected people.
The inundation of schools, homes, health facilities and water sources impact access to basic services and livelihoods. For example, in November 2021 in Unity State alone more than 100 schools were impacted by flooding, affecting access to education for over 60,000 students. As well as longer term impacts of the loss of education, the population affected by floods also faces immediate increased risk of disease.
Solution
Responding to the needs of the most affected
UNICEF and partners are responding to the immediate needs of people affected and displaced by floods, providing them with essential supplies, including soap, drugs, and education materials, while ensuring continuation of lifesaving services such as healthcare, vaccination, nutrition and access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
To reduce the impact of floods on the most vulnerable population, UNICEF invests in flood resilience of local communities and preparedness activities, including pre-positioning of supplies during the dry season when roads remain accessible.