UN: floods affect 500,000 people in Sudan

23/08/2013 16:11

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced in its latest report on Friday that 500,000 people have been affected by floods in Sudan so far. The figure was provided by Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).HAC estimates that a total of 106,000 families (about 530,000 people) in 16 States across Sudan (plus Abyei) have been “affected”, the report reads.“The number of flood-affected people across Sudan has gradually increased due to continuous rains in some areas and new information being made available …  [HAC estimates] that 74,000 houses were either totally destroyed or damaged by the floods.”These are, however, initial estimates and the figures will be confirmed as more detailed assessments take place, it was stated.“Following an initial lack of clarity over who was responsible within the Government for coordinating the floods response with international organisations, on 18 August HAC activated a Floods Task Force. HAC called on designated agencies to participate in the Task Force, which will meet daily until further notice and report to the Government’s High Council for Civil Defence,” OCHA says.The OCHA bulletin states that Khartoum is the hardest hit state in the country, with HAC figures indicating that an estimated 36,000 houses were either totally destroyed or damaged by the floods.According to HAC, some 106,000 people have also been affected by heavy rains and floods in Blue Nile State, and 9,000 people were affected in South Kordofan.The bulletin states that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is currently verifying reports of some 30,000 people (6,000 families) affected by heavy rains and floods in Kalma and Bielel camps in Bielel locality, South Darfur.The IOM also estimates that some 5,000 people (1,000 families) and six schools have been affected by heavy rains and floods in Tawila, Malha and Kuma localities in North Darfur.In El Fasher town, IOM had previously identified some 7,900 people (1,477 families) affected by the rains and floods in early August. Out of these people, 1,500 (271 families) had their homes totally destroyed.Photo: Flooding in Sharg al Nil Area, Khartoum. (Rodraksa/OCHA)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced in its latest report on Friday that 500,000 people have been affected by floods in Sudan so far. The figure was provided by Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).

HAC estimates that a total of 106,000 families (about 530,000 people) in 16 States across Sudan (plus Abyei) have been “affected”, the report reads.

“The number of flood-affected people across Sudan has gradually increased due to continuous rains in some areas and new information being made available …  [HAC estimates] that 74,000 houses were either totally destroyed or damaged by the floods.”

These are, however, initial estimates and the figures will be confirmed as more detailed assessments take place, it was stated.

“Following an initial lack of clarity over who was responsible within the Government for coordinating the floods response with international organisations, on 18 August HAC activated a Floods Task Force. HAC called on designated agencies to participate in the Task Force, which will meet daily until further notice and report to the Government’s High Council for Civil Defence,” OCHA says.

The OCHA bulletin states that Khartoum is the hardest hit state in the country, with HAC figures indicating that an estimated 36,000 houses were either totally destroyed or damaged by the floods.

According to HAC, some 106,000 people have also been affected by heavy rains and floods in Blue Nile State, and 9,000 people were affected in South Kordofan.

The bulletin states that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is currently verifying reports of some 30,000 people (6,000 families) affected by heavy rains and floods in Kalma and Bielel camps in Bielel locality, South Darfur.

The IOM also estimates that some 5,000 people (1,000 families) and six schools have been affected by heavy rains and floods in Tawila, Malha and Kuma localities in North Darfur.

In El Fasher town, IOM had previously identified some 7,900 people (1,477 families) affected by the rains and floods in early August. Out of these people, 1,500 (271 families) had their homes totally destroyed.

Photo: Flooding in Sharg al Nil Area, Khartoum. (Rodraksa/OCHA)