Death, destruction as Sudan floods continue

Heavy rains and resulting flash floods continue to wreak destruction across Sudan. Reports reach Radio Dabanga daily of people, homes, livestock, and entire villages being washed-away.

The most affected states are Kassala, Sennar, South Kordofan, West Kordofan, North Darfur and the Northern state.

The office of the Governor of the Northern State reported the death of three people and collapse of 200 houses as a result of the rains that hit large parts of the vast state last week.

The Governor appealed to the Presidency in Khartoum to provide support for the state. He pointed out that the rising Nile is threatening to inundate about 20 islands in the state.

Two people died as 12 districts and about 745 families were affected at Abu Jubeiha in South Kordofan.

In Abbassiya city in South Kordofan, about 200 houses in the city itself and 12 others in the peripheral areas collapsed along with the loss of 700 goats and sheep. About 150 families were affected. They are now living in Mushamaat.

Three villages were entirely swept away by the swollen Blue Nile in Sennar state on Wednesday. Several the Blue Nile flood swept more than three villages in Sennar state in addition to  flooding some districts in Sinja locality.

Flood Task Force

According to a Flooding Snapshot published this week by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from official Sudanese government figures, heavy rain and flooding since early June have affected over 122,000 people and destroyed over 13,000 houses in many parts of Sudan.

OCHA says that The Government of Sudan is leading and coordinating the response, and has reactivated the Flood Task Force (FTF) at federal and state levels. The FTF includes representatives from Ministries, the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), Civil Defence Authority, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), and United Nations agencies.