Miss Earth South Sudan, Asara Bullen Panchol has urged the government to encourage the use of fuel-efficient stoves to reduce the cutting of trees.

The use of improved fuel-efficient stoves can reduce the production of smoke and harmful gasses within households.

Speaking to reporters in the capital, Juba on Thursday, Panchol said environmentalists should help create awareness among citizens on the dangers of deforestation.

“We need to embark on massive environmental education to create awareness on the dangers of tree cutting,” she said.

Panchol pointed out that the devastating floods in most parts of South Sudan could be attributed to deforestation in the country.

“This is climate change. If we had many trees, maybe some of these things would not be happening,” she stressed.

Pachol further said South Sudan is experiencing the effect of heavy floods having lost so many of its trees in the last few years.

She urged environmental activists and agencies to donate trees and encourage tree planting all over the country.

According to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), more than 908,000 people have been affected by heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, of whom 620,000 needed humanitarian assistance.

Late last month, the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir declared a state of emergency in the flood-affected areas.