Why is the world's newest country facing an existential threat?

Climate activist Wendy Ahonda explains the devastating floods in South Sudan.
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An image of Wendy Ahonda in a life jacket juxtaposed with an aerial shot of a submerged area in South Sudan
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South Sudan, the world's newest country, has been grappling with extreme weather events for almost half of its independent history.

Devastating floods in South Sudan have displaced millions of people, subsequently worsening the country’s ongoing conflict and food security crisis. The U.N. estimates that around two-thirds of South Sudan’s population of 10 million will not have enough to eat during the lean season in 2023, which runs from April until July.

To find out about the crisis first-hand and the severe impact climate change is having on the country, Mashable spoke to Wendy Ahonda, a young climate activist from South Sudan, who has been campaigning with UNICEF for the past few years. In the aftermath of the floods in October 2022, she traveled to flood-struck areas to gather information about the needs and problems of those most affected by the crisis.

Topics Activism Nature

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Teodosia Dobriyanova
Video Producer

Teodosia is a video producer at Mashable UK, focussing on stories about climate resilience, urban development, and social good.


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