CEPO Advocates for Disability Inclusion in Flood Response Efforts

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, held a one-day advocacy workshop in Juba to push for the inclusion of people with disabilities in South Sudan’s flood preparedness and response plans. 

Organized as a roundtable discussion, the workshop aimed to integrate disability inclusion into the South Sudan Flood Preparedness and Response Plan for June to December 2024.

CEPO’s Executive Director, Edmund Yakani, voiced concerns in his opening remarks about the exclusion of people with disabilities in previous flood response efforts. He urged the government to prioritize their needs in the upcoming response plans.

“This discussion aims to ensure that when we respond to floods, we address the unique needs of persons with disabilities. South Sudan has a significant population of individuals with disabilities due to our long history of conflict. These individuals are disproportionately affected by floods, and their specific needs must be considered,” Yakani stated.

Charles Flacido Wani, Director at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, underscored the importance of disability inclusion, announcing that the government has formed a flood task force to help mitigate flood impacts.

Emmanuel Lubari, Director of Disability Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, emphasized that people with disabilities should be integrated into all institutional programs.

He highlighted South Sudan’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which advocates for equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

CEPO is a South Sudanese non-profit organization dedicated to peacebuilding, human rights, the rule of law, governance, and democratic transformation.