Government calls for caution in Juba ahead of heavy rains

The government urged the residents in Juba’s Gudele, Guri, Mia Saba, Hai Referendum and states in lowland areas such as Unity and Jonglei to watch out for the aftermath of rains such as floods.

The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Africano Bartel, urged the authorities in charge of the said areas to prepare water drainage systems ahead of rainfall and potential flooding.

Bartel added that once the country’s heatwave subsides, cooler temperatures and clouds are expected.

“We have come out from the heat but the next thing that is going to come is we are going to have some heavy rains, which is going cause flooding,” said Bartel, who spoke to the media on Tuesday during a press conference at the offices of the Ministry of General Education in Juba.

He warned that lakes are expected to overflow their shores as a result of the heavy rains in the lake regions.

“We are also going to have heavy rains in the lake regions in Rwanda, Uganda and the rest. I think the level of the Nile will be increasing so lowland areas like Jonglei and Unity will start experiencing some flooding,” he added.

Some parts of South Sudan have experienced consistent flooding, which has caused the displacement of the population and loss of property. Also, humans and livestock have died in the process.

IGAD Climate Production and Application Centre (ICPAC) revealed that the Horn of Africa is poised for rainfall and wetter seasons from March to May.