The South Sudan Water Crisis
Causes and Effects of the Water Crisis
Extreme Seasons
There are two main seasons in South Sudan: one is extremely wet, but the other is impossibly dry. Both seasons last about six months and have an average temperature of between 70°F and 120°F every day. From November to May, the dry, hot season causes most of the water sources in South Sudan dry up.
This lack of water forces women and children to walk roughly eight hours every day to the nearest pond, lake, river, or other water source. In many cases, they walk for a couple hours to a water source and collect a few gallons if they are lucky. Reaching their home by about noon, they then head off again to collect more water.
Water Borne Disease
South Sudanese have no choice in what they drink. The water that the women and children collect is usually contaminated with water borne diseases. The diseases in the water often cause illnesses, and even death, particularly in children under the age of six.
Education
Since women and children spend the majority of their day collecting water, there is little time to build stable schools, markets, or medical centers. In the few communities that have these schools, many children are not able to attend because they have to walk for water.
Almost 75% of adults in South Sudan are illiterate, causing South Sudan to have one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world. This is due to the lack of education throughout the country. Only 30 percent of children between the age of six and 17 have ever been inside a classroom. Also, only one in 10 children in South Sudan finish primary school.
Learn about the Sudanese Civil War.
