In South Sudan, People With Disabilities Are Made Visible in Disaster Planning
In Jonglei State, one of South Sudan’s most flood-prone regions, Ayen Chol Arem, a mother of six, is fighting to protect her family in the face of relentless climate disasters. Her family's situation reflects a wider crisis: three of her children have disabilities. Juma has severe impairments from meningitis, Adut has club foot, and Dhieu has fractured thigh bones. Flooding repeatedly forces them to evacuate, often leaving them without shelter or access to medical care. Globally, people with disabilities are two to four times more likely to die in natural disasters, yet they are systematically excluded from disaster preparedness planning. Weakened by conflict, economic collapse, and hunger, South Sudan has little capacity to protect its disabled citizens. This is where Light for the World, a global disability rights non-profit organization, steps in. Since 2021, Light for the World has worked in Jonglei to empower families by providing accessible communication, inclusive evacuation training, and workshops on disability inclusion. The organization also distributes mobility aids. Facilitators such as Daniel Anyang, who is disabled himself, ensure that families such as Arem’s are not left behind. Partnerships with local groups, including CEPO, push for systemic change. Despite these improvements, women like Arem remain at the forefront of multiple crises: war, flooding, disability, and poverty. Their resilience, supported by disability-focused advocacy, highlights the extreme urgent need for inclusive climate disaster planning.
