Context

Mundri West County in South Sudan has experienced severe cyclical flooding over the past five years. This flooding has caused significant damage to public infrastructure, homes, and agricultural land, reducing access to essential services such as water and electricity. Additionally, it has resulted in the loss of lives and livelihoods. The floods of 2022 and 2023 had particularly devastating effects in Mundri, where thousands of people lost their homes. In the aftermath, many were forced to flee to neighbouring counties in search of shelter, food, and assistance for the injured. They also sought to escape the epidemic outbreaks that arose due to the floods.

The local population struggles to cope with climatic events due to a lack of reliable climate information and effective early warning systems. Most residents depend on rain-fed agriculture, making it crucial for them to anticipate weather changes. Furthermore, distrust and detachment among various local groups, including farmers and pastoralists, significantly hinder community-led initiatives and existing coping strategies, making it difficult to respond effectively to these challenges.

Project objectives

The project's objectives include conducting a hands-on exercise to map hazards and solutions and engaging the broader community through awareness-raising sessions led by local groups. It aims to identify climate patterns, assess the risks of climate-related disasters such as floods and unpredictable rainfall, and determine the resources available to prevent or cope with these risks in Mundri West County, located in Western Equatoria State.

Project activities

Youth Empowerment and Development Aid (YEDA), together with local partners and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMapping Team (HOT), are implementing a hands-on hazards and solutions mapping exercise with the local community that aims to map the locations vulnerable to flooding and the resources available to prevent and cope with such risks in Mundri West County.  The mapping team engages five community groups of 10 participants each (women, PWDs, youths, community leaders, and elderly) to inform and co-create this mapping. They hope to develop an evacuation and preparedness plan with fellow non-governmental organisations and local governments.

The project aims to provide communities with better resources to prepare for disasters by revitalising the local village savings and loan associations and cash-voucher assistance. The latter can be used to purchase essential kits when an unpredictable climatic event occurs.

Project outputs

• 360-degree street view mapping of Mundri West County
• Mapping of flood vulnerabilities and key infrastructures
•  Co-created evacuation and preparedness plan