(AWEIL) – The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 2.5 million (approximately 11.5 billion SSP) to support South Sudanese communities in adapting to climate change and recurring floods, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has announced. The funding aims to help vulnerable populations withstand environmental shocks and rebuild livelihoods in flood prone areas of Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States.
South Sudan faces severe climate challenges. In 2024 alone, floods and other climate related events affected over 1.4 million people, displacing an estimated 380,000. Homes were destroyed, crops washed away, livestock lost, and communities left struggling to survive.
The project, titled Enhancing Resilience against Floods in Vulnerable Communities in the Bahr el Ghazal Region through the Promotion of Disaster Management and Adaptive Agroforestry and Livestock Production, is implemented in partnership with the World Food Programme. It will directly benefit 26,000 people, including 20,000 refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees, as well as 6,000 members of host communities. In 2024, floods alone displaced more than 106,000 people across these two states.
Communities will receive practical support to recover from climate shocks. Measures include installing flood early warning systems, constructing climate resilient shelters, rehabilitating water points, and installing solar powered pumps. The initiative will also promote drip irrigation and plant 100,000 fruit and medicinal trees to restore degraded land, improve nutrition, and create income opportunities.
“The devastating floods that have ravaged parts of South Sudan, affecting hundreds of thousands of people and displacing countless families, highlight the urgent need for immediate and sustained action. Today, we are taking a significant step forward in addressing this urgent challenge by signing this Flood Resilience Project agreement,” said Odagiri Toshio, Japan’s Ambassador to South Sudan.
Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR’s Representative in South Sudan, added that the project offers communities the tools to cope with future floods, rebuild livelihoods, and plan for a sustainable future.
“We are grateful to the Government of Japan for its commitment to addressing climate change and recognising the link between climate related disasters and forced displacement,” Verney said.
Climate Smart Agriculture Project Launched in Northern Bahr el Ghazal
| Project Component | Description | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | US$ 2.5 million (11.5 billion SSP) | 26,000 people |
| Locations | Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States | Flood affected communities |
| Key Activities | Flood early warning systems, climate-resilient shelters, water point rehabilitation, solar pumps, drip irrigation, planting 100,000 trees | Refugees, IDPs, returnees, host communities |
| Objectives | Build resilience to floods, restore livelihoods, improve nutrition, create income opportunities | Vulnerable households |