Sudan flood deaths rise as rain continues

KHARTOUM: Heavy rains and floods had killed at least 62 people and injured 98 in Sudan since July, the Health Ministry said.

The disaster has affected almost 36000 families in 17 of the volatile country’s 18 states, acting undersecretary of health, Sulaiman Abdul Jabbar, told reporters late on Sunday in Khartoum.

“In total 22676 houses were destroyed, 13074 houses partially collapsed, 8780 toilets collapsed, 3636 livestock are dead and 150 public facilities have been affected,” Jabbar said.

Rainfall continued yesterday in Sudan, which is in the middle of a rainy season that is expected to last until October.

With more rainfall forecast, the UN was concerned by the high likelihood of more flash floods, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said.

Southern White Nile State has suffered the most from the floods, with more than 66000 people affected and more than 13000 houses destroyed or damaged, according to Ocha.

Crucial infrastructure such as water access points, schools and latrines had been damaged and roads had become impassable, cutting off entire villages and communities, the organisation said.

Loss of livestock may aggravate already rising food insecurity, Ocha added.

An estimated 5.8 million people are severely food-insecure in Sudan, according to the UN, which is two million more than the previous year. | dpa