By Dogga Luwo
Government has ordered closure of schools for two weeks due to escalating heat wave 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, 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 heatwave, it is forecasted that it will last for least two weeks and more,” she said. “Therefore it is critical to take proper safety measures during humid and hot periods.”
She said excessive heat is becoming serious due to climate change, adding that high temperatures of 39’C up to 42 are expected for the next two weeks or more.
“The Ministry of Education is to close schools for a period of 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 government institutions should operate at least for 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.
This is the second, the schools have been closed due to the extreme heatwave caused by climate changes.