Now, Schools in South Sudan are closing down to await the imminent Heat Wave. Take precautions if, perhaps, as a business tourist or a lover of Africa, you find yourself on the shores of South Sudan around this period.

Warnings have gone out from the Government to all establishments, especially Schools, to remain closed until the inevitable passes. Out of all the crises facing Sudan lately, the heat is more like the topping of the fruit cake.

The World Food Program reported a severe humanitarian crisis in South Sudan due to violence, economic instability, climate change, and conflict in neighbouring Sudan. In January, 818,000 vulnerable people received food and cash transfers. And now the weather has dealt another blow of extreme warm weather. Medical charity MSF reported an increase in hospital admissions due to rising temperatures. In contrast, South Sudanese residents, who gained independence in 2011, making them the youngest nation, reported challenging conditions in their country, which seem not to be abating soon.

The only question ringing in my head is, Is South Sudan always this hot? This is a pertinent question that needs to be addressed so that travellers and/or visitors can be guided.

Being a new country, South Sudan is susceptible to climate change because of its regular heat waves, political unrest, and past experiences with drought and flooding, all of which have made life there tough for the locals. However, the country is familiar with heat waves but rarely exceeding 40 C (104 F) as being experienced now.

South Sudan has a tropical environment. Average temperatures typically surpass 25°C, with highs reaching 35°C, especially in the dry season (January to April). The capital city of Juba has 34.5°C average highs and 21.6°C average lows annually. So, the present condition can be termed the severest.

The 11 million-strong landlocked nation in East Africa has also seen severe floods recently. This is another illustration of how South Sudanese children are being affected by climate change.

More work must be done together to achieve adaptation and resilience to these climate emergencies—which are occurring more frequently and mostly affecting children—.