By William Madouk
For families living in flood-prone areas of South Sudan, heavy rains can bring fear of losing their homes, crops and belongings.
When disaster strikes, some are forced to leave everything behind and struggle to rebuild their lives.
Peter Mayen Majondit, the caretaker Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, says South Sudan must strengthen early warning systems, improve preparedness and make homes and communities safer.
“The annual observations highlight the urgent need to strengthen disaster preparedness, reduce vulnerability, and protect life, livelihood, homes and essential infrastructure from the disaster,” Majondit said.
For South Sudan, the message comes at a time when repeated hazards continue to expose vulnerable communities to the risk of losing their homes, livelihoods and access to essential services.
When floods destroy crops, families can lose both their food supplies and their source of income. Damaged roads and infrastructure can also interrupt access to schools, healthcare and clean water.
Majondit said South Sudan’s exposure to floods, droughts and climate-related hazards is compounded by conflict, displacement and limited infrastructure.
“These risks threaten food insecurity, livelihood, agriculture, public health education, water and sanitation, housing and economic life,” he said.
The minister also warned that unsafe housing, settlements in flood-prone areas, inadequate drainage and limited access to risk information can increase the likelihood of displacement and loss of livelihoods.
Majondit said the home is where many people experience the direct effects of disasters and where preparedness must begin.
“The theme calls for shared responsibility in which the government institutions establish effective policies, safety safeguards, development partners support the risk information investment, the private sector promotes resilient construction, communities and households are equipped to understand the risks and act on the early warning system,” he said.
Families can take practical steps by preparing emergency plans, protecting important documents, identifying safe locations and evacuation routes, and following reliable early warning messages.
Majongdit said disasters may not always be preventable, but their impact can be reduced through proper planning, safer homes, reliable early warnings and timely action.
“While the hazards cannot always be prevented, their impact can be reduced through informed decisions, effective institutions, resilient homes, access to early warning information and timely actions,” he said.
As South Sudan marks the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the theme “Resilience Starts at Home” serves as a reminder that protecting lives begins before disaster strikes.
Majondit said the ministry continues to work with government institutions, United Nations agencies, humanitarian and development partners, and communities to strengthen disaster risk management and early warning efforts.
He highlighted the South Sudan First National Dialogue on disaster risk management, held in Juba from September 14 to 16, 2026.
Majondit said the efforts were part of the ministry’s commitment to shifting from responding after disasters occur towards planning, prevention, preparedness and timely action.
Funding and infrastructure gaps remain
Despite these efforts, the minister acknowledged that South Sudan still faces major challenges in reducing disaster risks.
He identified limited resources, inadequate access to early warning information, infrastructure constraints and repeated exposure to floods and other hazards as some of the outstanding problems.
The minister also called on the media and civil society to share accurate information, counter misinformation and ensure that preparedness messages reach communities in languages they understand.
But breaking the cycle of disaster and displacement will require more than awareness. It will depend on whether warnings reach vulnerable families, whether communities receive support to prepare and whether authorities invest in measures that reduce risks.
For families who have repeatedly lost homes and livelihoods, the real test will be whether the next disaster finds them better prepared—and whether they can recover without starting all over again.
He made the call on Tuesday, October 13, as the country joined the international community to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026 under the theme “Resilience Starts at Home.”
The annual commemoration seeks to raise awareness about disaster risks and encourage governments, communities and development partners to take action before hazards turn into humanitarian emergencies.