South Sudan has ordered the closure of all schools for two weeks starting Friday, 21 February 2025, as the country grapples with an extreme heatwave.
The decision comes after 12 students reportedly collapsed during school hours in the capital, Juba, due to soaring temperatures.
This is not the first time the country has taken such measures. In March last year, schools were shut for a similar period as temperatures exceeded 40°C (104°F).
On Thursday, a high-level meeting chaired by Vice President for the Service Cluster, Josephine Joseph Lagu, was held in Juba to address the crisis. Officials from the Ministries of Health, Environment, and Education presented reports on the impact of the heatwave.
Josephine Napwon Cosmos, Minister of Environment and Forestry, warned that temperatures are expected to reach 39-42°C (102-108°F) or higher this week.
She confirmed that schools would remain closed until conditions improve, with reopening potentially delayed until the second week of March, depending on the weather.
“Public institutions will also operate on a half-day schedule for the next two weeks. Extreme heat can be deadly, particularly for children,” Napwon said.
Acting Minister of Health, Ayaa Benjamin Warille, urged parents to keep children indoors and advised the public to avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours. She also emphasized the importance of staying hydrated.
“Drink plenty of water and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to hydrate,” Warille said.
South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest nations, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis. While heatwaves are common, temperatures rarely surpass 40°C (104°F).
The country has faced years of civil conflict, compounded by recurring droughts and floods, which have severely affected living conditions.