Zero waste, more hope in South Sudan

South Sudan

NEW YORK, 18 February 2024 / PRN Africa / -- The team is working with local authorities and civil society to find fresh solutions to the young nation’s environmental challenges, one reused plastic bottle at a time.

There is no supply issue.

“Every time it rains in Juba, say during a weekend of rain, you can see about 25,000 kg (approx. 55,000 lbs) of plastic waste mixed with silt that flows into the drains, and eventually into the Tomping camp,” says Ms. Gazdar, talking about one of the two UN bases in the capital city of Juba where some of the nearly 18,000 peacekeepers live.

“Finally, the plastic waste makes its way out of all these drains and into the Nile, which is this beautiful, long, pure river which is less and less pristine every day after the rain. So, we’re trying to set up systems where we can capture the waste before it actually reaches the Nile.”

Coping with climate shocks

Since South Sudan’s independence in 2011 following a historic referendum, it has faced many political, socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Despite its lush biodiversity, rivers teeming with life and a bounty of natural resources, it is among the five most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

In recent years, a devastating cycle of floods and droughts have disrupted agriculture, exacerbated food security and affected approximately one million people annually. Above-average rainfall has inundated its rivers and tributaries, submerging large swathes of land, including homes, farms and schools.

Political and economic uncertainty have taken a toll on the development of public services such as waste management and recycling, allowing waste to clog the country’s waterways and wetlands as it makes its way to the Nile River which South Sudan shares with 11 other African countries.

Over 200 million people rely on the Nile for their livelihoods, yet poor waste management can lead to chemical and plastic leakages that threaten ecosystem services, human health and economic prosperity.

SOURCE UN News Centre

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