From extreme heat to heavy downpours: Climate shocks expose Juba’s vulnerability

2026-03-25 - 07:35

In Juba, a week of heavy rain has exposed the city’s growing vulnerability to climate shocks, following months of extreme heat that pushed temperatures into the high 30s and 40s. What began as a welcome break from the scorching heat quickly turned into destruction. Flash floods submerged homes and roads, disrupting movement in densely populated areas such as Munuki and Hai Referendum. Residents say the scale of flooding was worsened by poor waste management, with plastic bottles and garbage blocking drainage channels and forcing water into homes. Rebecca Akit, a resident of Hai Referendum, described the intensity of the storm. “The rain does fall, but not like the one today,” she said. “There are times it comes and destroys things, but today is the worst. It destroyed homes, fences, and property; nothing is left, as you can see.” A resident walk-through collapsed shelters and scattered belongings in Juba following flooding that flattened homes and displaced families. Photo credit: Darlington Moses For some families, the impact has been devastating. A woman who recently returned from Sudan struggled to hold back tears as she recounted her experience. “It was a real disaster. You would have cried if you had witnessed what we went through. An old man is living with us; waterlogged on the roof, and we had to cut part of the iron sheet for the water to pass. A small house fell on my daughter’s head while she held a baby, but they were rescued just in time,” she said. She called for urgent humanitarian assistance. In Atlabara, residents are now worried about the health risks, especially for children. Rita Jamal expressed concern over exposure to floodwaters. “I fear kids falling sick from the coldness as they are exposed to floodwaters,” she said. Others say the flooding reflects a wider pattern of extreme weather. “We have been suffering from heat for months, and now the rain has come with destruction,” said a resident in Munuki. “The water has nowhere to pass because the culverts are blocked with waste.” Experts warn that such weather extremes are becoming more frequent. Nyamach Hoth Mai, an environmental and climate change expert, says the pattern of intense heat followed by heavy rainfall is increasingly linked to climate change. She explains that urban centers like Juba are particularly vulnerable due to rapid and unplanned expansion, weak drainage systems, and poor environmental governance. “The recent floods in Juba are more than just a temporary disruption; they are a warning sign of deeper environmental and public health risks,” Nyamach explained. She warns that floodwaters mixing with waste could trigger disease outbreaks. “With poor drainage systems and widespread informal settlements in low-lying areas, floodwaters are increasingly mixing with human waste, exposing communities to dangerous outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.” Stagnant water also raises the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Nyamach says this could lead to more cases of malaria, especially among children and the elderly, potentially overwhelming already fragile health services. She further highlights the role of waste in worsening the situation. “Plastic waste and other debris clog the city’s already limited drainage channels, preventing water from flowing naturally,” she said. “In many neighborhoods, heaps of garbage carried by floodwaters end up blocking key waterways, turning what could have been manageable rainfall into destructive floods.” Across many parts of the city, garbage remains uncollected, with plastic waste dominating drainage paths and reducing their capacity to carry stormwater. Floodwaters sweep through a major road in Juba, disrupting traffic and daily life after a heavy downpour overwhelmed drainage systems. The flooding has once again brought attention to long-standing waste management challenges. Earlier this year, Juba City Mayor Christopher Sarafino Swaka said the City Council spends an average of 35 million South Sudanese Pounds daily on waste management. According to the mayor, the funds cover fuel, maintenance, and operations for 37 waste collection vehicles, including compactors and tippers. The cost also includes drivers, sanitation workers, waste pickers, and the management of dumping sites. Each truck reportedly makes at least two trips per day, with every trip costing approximately 370,000 SSP plus 40,000 SSP for fuel and logistical expenses. Despite this, many residential areas continue to struggle with accumulated garbage. The Ministry of Environment says it is working to improve the situation through the “Juba Clean City Project,” which aims to strengthen waste collection, landfill management, and funding for vehicle maintenance. As climate shocks intensify, the events in Juba highlight a growing reality. Without better waste management, stronger planning, and climate-resilient infrastructure, communities will continue to face the combined impact of extreme heat and destructive floods.