Flooded Roads Threaten School Attendance in Yei

(Yei) – Students and residents in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, are calling on government authorities to urgently rehabilitate roads that have become nearly impassable during the rainy season.

Heavy rainfall has caused streams to overflow, making the journey to school increasingly difficult and dangerous for many children.

Local resident Mawa Simon raised the concern during a community appeal, revealing that the persistent rainfall has flooded several small streams and washed out roads across the county. These conditions, he said, are severely affecting children’s ability to attend school safely and regularly.

“During the rainy season, school going children in Yei River County go through hardship as many roads become almost impassable,” Simon stated.

He called on the Governor of Central Equatoria State, Lieutenant General Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, and local MPs at both the state and national levels to prioritize road repairs in affected areas.

Simon’s appeal is echoed by students themselves, who say they are physically struggling each day to make their way through rising waters to reach school.

John Woja, a local learner, shared that navigating flooded areas has become a daily challenge, and appealed to the government for urgent help.

“You have to walk through the water to get to school. It’s not safe, and we are asking the government to help us,” Woja said.

The rainy season in this part of South Sudan typically causes disruptions, but residents report that this year the situation is worse than usual, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

With education already affected in many regions due to lack of infrastructure and limited school resources, the added burden of poor road conditions may further impact school attendance and performance.

Community leaders are emphasizing the importance of timely intervention, warning that if the roads are not improved, children’s access to education could suffer long term setbacks.

They argue that better roads would not only assist learners but also improve access to health services, markets, and other essential community functions.

No financial estimates were given for the cost of road repairs. However, the community stressed that even basic improvements, such as constructing small bridges over flooded streams or reinforcing vulnerable road sections could make a significant difference.

Seasonal weather patterns across South Sudan regularly expose weaknesses in road networks, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.