Water Security in South Sudan

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Water Security in South Sudan

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00:04 South Sudan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change.

00:09 Much of the harm comes from water-related risks such as floods and droughts.

00:17 Decades of conflict and insecurity have undermined the

00:21 country's ability to cope with these risks,

00:24 accelerating the destructive potential

00:26 of climate change in South Sudan.

00:31 A new World Bank report describes the links between water security,

00:36 development,

00:36 and peace in South Sudan.

00:38 It presents new data and analysis on the importance of water for people,

00:43 production and protection.

00:49 More than 60% of South Sudan's population does

00:52 not have access to safe drinking water,

00:55 and 3 out of 4 people practice open defecation.

00:59 While there is progress in some urban areas,

01:01 most of the population of South Sudan lives in rural areas where access

01:06 to safe drinking water declined by 5% points over the past decade.

01:12 This has detrimental effects on the health,

01:15 nutrition and education of the people of South Sudan.

01:22 Water plays a key role in supporting livelihoods and ecosystems in South Sudan.

01:27 Seasonal flooding sustains the livelihoods of

01:30 about 6 million people who live along

01:32 the Nile and Soba rivers and the wide eastern and western flood plains.

01:38 The potential for water infrastructure to support

01:40 jobs and economic activity remains unexploited.

01:44 There is no significant water storage in South Sudan,

01:48 and irrigated agriculture makes up less than

01:50 5% of the total area under cultivation.

01:57 South Sudan ranks 7th in the world for share of total country population exposed

02:02 to river floods as shown by the dramatic floods of the past 4 years.

02:17 The country is also at risk from droughts.

02:20 This affects the mobility options of pastoralists,

02:23 bringing them into competition with neighboring communities

02:27 and increasing the risk of cattle raids.

02:29 With climate change,

02:31 the frequency and intensity of droughts are projected to increase.

02:37 How can water help sustain development and stability in South Sudan?

02:41 The report outlines 5 priorities.

02:44 First,

02:45 the country needs to strengthen the policy and institutional frameworks

02:49 to guide water sector investments and ensure their sustainability.

02:54 It is also essential to address the water supply and

02:57 sanitation crisis by strengthening service

03:00 delivery models for rural populations,

03:02 enabling sustainable use and.

03:04 Management of groundwater resources and promoting climate resilient solutions.

03:10 Advancing disaster risk preparedness and early warning systems will help prevent

03:15 flood losses and economic damages that are hindering growth prospects.

03:20 There are substantial opportunities to harness water's productive

03:24 potential through investments supporting domestic fish production,

03:28 wetland restoration,

03:30 and flood recession agriculture.

03:33 Finally,

03:33 a comprehensive portfolio of water management

03:36 infrastructure solutions is needed over the long

03:39 term with careful attention to the

03:41 social and environmental impacts of investments.

03:47 As South Sudan works to consolidate peace and stabilize the economy,

03:51 water management and policy will be key to support

03:54 the country's efforts towards recovery and a sustainable development.

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South Sudan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change. Much of the harm comes from water-related risks such as floods and droughts. Decades of conflict and insecurity have undermined the country's ability to cope with these risks, accelerating the destructive potential of climate change in South Sudan. A new World Bank report describes the links between water security, development, and peace in South Sudan. It presents new data and analysis on the importance of water for people, production and protection. More than 60% of South Sudan's population does not have access to safe drinking water, and 3 out of 4 people practice open defecation. While there is progress in some urban areas, most of the population of South Sudan lives in rural areas where access to safe drinking water declined by 5% points over the past decade. This has detrimental effects on the health, nutrition and education of the people of South Sudan. Water plays a key role in supporting livelihoods and ecosystems in South Sudan. Seasonal flooding sustains the livelihoods of about 6 million people who live along the Nile and Soba rivers and the wide eastern and western flood plains. The potential for water infrastructure to support jobs and economic activity remains unexploited. There is no significant water storage in South Sudan, and irrigated agriculture makes up less than 5% of the total area under cultivation. South Sudan ranks 7th in the world for share of total country population exposed to river floods as shown by the dramatic floods of the past 4 years. The country is also at risk from droughts. This affects the mobility options of pastoralists, bringing them into competition with neighboring communities and increasing the risk of cattle raids. With climate change, the frequency and intensity of droughts are projected to increase. How can water help sustain development and stability in South Sudan? The report outlines 5 priorities. First, the country needs to strengthen the policy and institutional frameworks to guide water sector investments and ensure their sustainability. It is also essential to address the water supply and sanitation crisis by strengthening service delivery models for rural populations, enabling sustainable use and. Management of groundwater resources and promoting climate resilient solutions. Advancing disaster risk preparedness and early warning systems will help prevent flood losses and economic damages that are hindering growth prospects. There are substantial opportunities to harness water's productive potential through investments supporting domestic fish production, wetland restoration, and flood recession agriculture. Finally, a comprehensive portfolio of water management infrastructure solutions is needed over the long term with careful attention to the social and environmental impacts of investments. As South Sudan works to consolidate peace and stabilize the economy, water management and policy will be key to support the country's efforts towards recovery and a sustainable development.

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