Heavy rains destroy homes, livestock in large parts of Darfur

Heavy rains have swept across large parts of Darfur, destroying 200 houses in Seraf Umrah and leading to the deaths of sheep and donkeys as heavy rains flooded an area in Melit. One of the citizens of Seraf Umra said that inhabitants of the area are subject to flooding and lack blankets and food.

In the North Darfur state capital, El Fasher, there is a proliferation of flies and insects after torrential rains left pools of stagnant, polluted water in the city. There are now more cases of diarrhea, especially among children, said a source at the hospital in El Fasher. He said on Friday that the hospital received dozens of sick children during the past two days.

The rains washed away more than 125 houses in Zalingei camp for displaced people. The rains also swept away boxes full of supplies at camps Abu Shouk and As Salaam camps outside El Fasher. In camps in South Darfur the rain caused disruptions at hospitals and schools.  At Kalma camp, Gereida and a number of neighborhoods around Nyala there was damage to homes and parts of the camps washed away. IDPs at a number of camps called on concerned authorities to immediately intervene to improve the humanitarian situation in the camps, warning of catastrophe.

In eastern Chad, the rain on Thursday destroyed more than 200 houses at Camp Djebel for Sudanese refugees. One refugee from the camp said that the rains destroyed food and people are forced to flee to higher ground. The refugee appealed to aid organizations to accelerate the provision of sheeting and improve drainage of stagnant water, otherwise there will be an outbreak of diseases.