As torrential rains ravage crops and destroy homes, the government said over 60 percent of the population is food insecure.
Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said 8 states out of 10 are currently affected by devastating floods.
“8 out of the 10 States in South Sudan are currently flooded and over 2 million people are internally displaced and have lost their livelihoods,” he said during the inauguration of the regional research observatory for environment and climate change in Djibouti on Sunday.
Makuei disclosed that besides the flooding, droughts, excessive heat, heat waves, and haphazard rain patterns have resulted in crop failure thus impacting the livelihoods of our people.
“Over 60% of our people are now categorized as food insecure. Therefore, lifesaving 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 biodiversity loss.
“Therefore, the establishment and inauguration of this Regional Research Observatory are pivotal for Climate Research, the collection and generation of countries specific data,” he said.
“The publication of scientific briefs to strengthen the capacity of our governments to develop policies and strategies based on best available research and science.”
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).