South Sudan’s government will close all schools starting Monday as the country braces for extreme heat expected to last two weeks.
In a statement late Saturday, the ministries of health and education advised parents to keep all children indoors as temperatures are expected to soar to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
They warned that any schools open during this period would have their registration deregistered, but did not specify how long schools would be closed.
Ministries said they “will continue to monitor developments and inform the public accordingly.”
Peter Garang, a resident of the capital Juba, welcomed the decision. “Schools should be connected to the grid” so they can be air-conditioned, he said.
South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest countries, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with heat waves common but rarely exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The East African country has been wracked by civil war, droughts and floods, and living conditions are difficult for residents.
South Sudan “continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis” due to violence, economic instability, climate change and an influx of people fleeing conflict in neighboring Sudan, the World Food Program said in its latest country briefing. It also said that in January 2024, 818,000 vulnerable people received food and cash transfers.