Singa cut-off by Blue Nile flood waters

Flash floods following torrential rains that fell on Monday and Tuesday have cut-off the road connecting El Mazmoum and Singa in Sennar for two days in a row. Resulting shortages caused a sharp rise in consumer goods and transportation prices.

Residents of Singa told Radio Dabanga that while the flood waters receded substantially on Tuesday and Wednesday, large parts of the city market and some districts are still flooded, including El Ingaz, El Wehda, and Sharg El Wadi.

They explained that prices of a pound of sugar has risen from SDG 8 ($1.20) to SDG 10 ($1.50) and a cake of soap from SDG 5 ($0.75) to SDG 7 ($1.05) in addition to a shortage of bread in the city.

Residents said the receding floodwaters revealed the substantial damage to homes and property over the past few days.

Extreme weather

Extreme weather in Sennar forced approximately 80 families from Singa out of their flooded homes since Friday. Rivers continue to flood in villages near rivers in Sennar and El Gedaref states.

People are staying in the public squares of the city. Residents told Radio Dabanga on Sunday that the level of the river in Singa, north-eastern Sudan, has been increasing over the last week.