Sudan is expecting above-normal rainfall across most states between July and October, which has already led to flooding, and causing death, displacement and damage to homes, infrastructure and livelihoods. The most flood prone states in Sudan include Kassala, Gedarif, Sinnar, Blue Nile, White Nile, Khartoum, North, Central, West and South Darfur, South and West Kordofan. Fourteen of the 18 states across the country have been affected by torrential rains that continued in several parts of over the last days, leading to flooding, landslides, damages to houses and infrastructure. With Khartoum, Blue Nile and River Nile states amongst the most affected.
A Flood Task Force, led by the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), has been activated at the Federal level to coordinate the flood response operations at national level and UNOCHA flash update activated. The Sudan Meteorological Authority has warned that more heavy rains are expected during August and September in most of the country, which can lead to further flooding and displacement. Heavy rains in Sudan have intensified, causing flooding, destruction of infrastructure, houses and livelihoods, and leading to displacement in multiple locations across the country. Khartoum, Blue Nile and River Nile are amongst the most affected states. Floods have also led to damages and affected people in other regions, including El Gezira, West Kordofan and South Darfur.
In the Blue Nile State, the state with highest number of people affected so far, the Bout Earth Dam, in Tadamon locality, exceeded its full capacity and collapsed, following the strong rainfall, affecting around 3,900 people. Most of them were rendered homeless and are now sheltering with host families, as nearly 190 houses were destroyed and 590 damaged. More houses are expected to collapse, as the rains continue in a zone where the land is already extremely wet, damage at least one school, 14 boreholes, and 218 latrines, over 150 livestock washed away and several hectares of crops might have been lost. The collapse of Bout Earth Dam will likely compromise access to water to the over 84,000 people who live in area. The heavy rains have also affected over 650 people in Wad Abok Village, in Bau locality, 15 km in the east of Bout Town. Several roads are impassable and access to both Wad Abok and Bout areas is only possible via helicopter, hampering Government and aid organizations’ ability to respond.
In the River Nile State, some localities, including Abu Hamad Town, received on 28 July alone over 44 mm of rainfall, almost three times the daily rainy season average of the area, some 75 homes collapsed, over 260 were damaged, and food and belongings of hundreds of people were washed away by flash flooding.
Over 180 houses have been severely damaged or destroyed in Sharg Al-Neel locality (Khartoum State), following a storm that hit the capital area on 31 July. Umm Dhawan Ban, Al-Nazyla Village, Abu Qrun Garib, Abu QronـJanoub and Jabareen areas, as well as Omdurman, are also among the highly affected localities in Khartoum State.
The heavy rainfall has also affected people in El Gezira, West Kordofan and South Darfur states. In El Gezira State, six people reportedly died following a violent storm on 28 July in the Kogeila area, east of El Managil Town, according to media reports. Previously in mid-July, heavy rains and flash floods affected nearly 16,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Otash (15,000 people), Dereige (nearly 700) and Mosey (over 320 people) camps in Nyala Town, South Darfur. At least two people died in Otash, several houses and other infrastructure, including latrines, were destroyed. Most people displaced by floods are living with host families, exposed to congestion, poor sanitation and inadequate food and other essentials, such as medicines, mosquito nets, as well as protection and maternal services. The affected families need food, shelter and other emergency items, including sleeping mats, jerry cans, kitchen utensils and mosquito nets.
The ongoing heavy rainfall hampers crop production, increases the risk of disease outbreaks and poses more obstacles to the Government and partners’ efforts to contain the COVID pandemic. Disruption to health services in worst affected areas in Khartoum and River Nile states. The ongoing heavy rainfall increases the risk of disease outbreaks and poses more obstacles to the Government and partners’ efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people displaced by floods are living with host families, exposed to congestion, poor sanitation and inadequate food and other essentials, such as medicines, mosquito nets, as well as protection and maternal services.
More than 84,000 people who live in Bout area in Blue Nile state compromise access to water due to collapse of Bout Earth Dam and damage to 14 boreholes in Bout. More than 349 latrines in Bout, Wad Abuk and Otash IDPs camp.
Significant risk of food insecurity and malnutrition, as UN already reported quarter of the entire population of Sudan, are now severely food insecure and in need of urgent assistance, according to the latest International Food Security Phase Classification (ICP) report. in addition to the shock by COVID -19 restriction to contain disease outbreak and flooding that destroyed and damaged of agricultures, livestock and where several hectares of crops have been flooded in the middle of the planting season in flooded areas, also at least two shops damaged in Al Lait.
Lack access to adequate shelter. As flooding Affected 1445 houses olds (HH), where more than 795 HHs destroyed (318 in Blue Nile- Bout and Wad Abuk, 180 in Khartoum-Sharg elneel, several houses in Otash IDPs, 75 in River Nile, 100 in White Nile, 122 in North Darfur-Al Lait), and more than 650 HHs damaged (590 in Blue Nile, 260 in River Nile). Although some people have found managed to shelter with neighbours and family members, several people in blue Nile, Khartoum, North Darfur, White Nile, are still homeless and in urgent need of assistance.