Rains destroy 1,196 homes, six schools in North Darfur’s El Sareif

Torrential rains and floods have wiped away 1,196 homes and six schools in El Sareif Beni Hussein town, North Darfur. Large tracts of farmland in El Sareif locality were destroyed, and a number of livestock died. “The more than heavy rains on Friday caused unprecedented flooding in the locality,” an activist told Radio Dabanga from El Sareif town. “The floods swept away 1,125 homes of formerly displaced, who returned last year, and 71 houses in Harika district.” “The people who have lost their homes, are now living in the open, without shelter or food.” The source appealed to the North Darfur State government and relief organisations to accelerate the provision of aid to the affected families. He pointed also to the continued closure of roads linking El Sareif with Saraf Umra, Kabkabiya, and Abu Gamra. “The rampant insecurity and the rainy season have led to an acute scarcity of consumer goods, and the subsequent rise in food prices. A piece of soap now costs SDG 5 ($0.87).” In El Salam camp, South Darfur, 2,000 shelters collapsed owing to heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday. El salam camp sheikh, Mahjoub Adam Tabaldiya, called on humanitarian organisations to intervene, and provide tents, tarpaulins, and food for the people affected by the rains. Photo: Damaged shelter in El Sareif Beni Hussein (Radio Dabanga)