South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, on Monday called on governments in the region and partners to raise resources to build resilience against climate shocks.
Guleid Artan, the Director IGAD-Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC) said during the opening of the two-day conference of the 67th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum held in Juba.
“As we gather here today, let us reaffirm our commitment to working together, the solution to our challenges lies in our unity and active collaboration, by pulling our resources and our expertise we can build a resilient region, that can withstand the impact of climate change and thrive in the face of the adversity of extreme weather and climate shocks that we are facing today,” Artan said.
The conference is being held under the theme, “Climate services for frontline climate action”.
Artan noted that IGAD has been unwavering in its commitment to address climate related risks and challenges both at the region as well as at the national level.
Pal Mai Deng, South Sudan’s minister of water resources and irrigation said that South Sudan needs to establish hydro-meteorological infrastructure to protect communities from weather and climate shocks, such as droughts and floods.
He noted that 60 percent of the country’s population settlement is at close proximity to the river bank.
“South Sudan is characterized by a diverse climate that presents immense opportunities for water resources that can propel economic growth,” Deng said.
“We cannot ignore the looming threats of climate change and heat related environmental disasters which remain the main challenge facing our country,” he added.
Simon Mijok Mijak, the minister for roads and bridges said climate change is immensely impacting construction of roads and bridges in the country especially floods.
He also noted climate change is also disrupting agriculture and water facilities in the country.
South Sudan has over the years been experiencing heavy flooding, causing displacement of thousands of people from their homes.
