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Sudan: Floods - Jul 2018

Status
Past
Countries
Sudan
Disaster types
Flash Flood
+ 1 more

Flooding has affected over 45,000 people, led to 23 human deaths and 61 injuries. In addition, more than 8,900 families have been rendered homeless and are currently putting up in temporary sites in their neighbours and relative’s houses.

These rains have caused significant damage to key infrastructure such as bridges and roads as well as amenities like schools, latrines and local dispensaries. In addition, livelihoods have been significantly affected as farms were submerged in water and livestock washed away. Power outages occur severally due to collapsing of power lines.

The Sudanese Meteorological Authority and the Ministry of Water Resources and Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC)’s early warming bulletin indicate that heavy rainfall is forecasted to continue over the eastern parts of the country as well as over Butana plains, including River Nile, the Red Sea state as well as Central and Western Darfur states. Additionally, the Blue Nile river and River Nile are expected to rise due to increased precipitation and this may cause river flooding and subsequently displacements and other needs amongst populations living along the riverine (IFRC, 13 Aug 2018.)

At least 6,000 homes in West Kordofan and Kassala states have been affected by recent heavy rains and floods, said the government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). In anticipation of above average rains this year in most parts of Sudan, a monthly Flood Task Force (FTF) composed of humanitarian partners—under the auspices of HAC---was reactivated in late June to put in place a four-month flood contingency plan for the country. The first meeting of the FTF focused on early warning and information management, Sector preparedness, response and coordination (OCHA, 15 Jul 2018.)

Flooding induced by torrential rain across Sudan has displaced more than 50,000 people since mid-July. Reports indicate at least 23 fatalities with many more injuries. Damage to crops and livestock deaths from flooding occurred in localized areas of West Kordofan, Kassala, and Darfur States. In areas with reported crop damage, households are replanting fields as seasonal rains continue. Areas with no flooding continue to have above-average rainfall with favorable crop development and pasture generation (FEWSNET, 31 Aug 2018.)

Heavy rains and consequent flash floods have so far affected more than 142,000 people, damaging households and livelihoods in 14 out of Sudan’s 18 states, West Kordofan, Kassala and Gedaref being the hardest hit. (OCHA, 19 Aug 2018.)

Widespread flooding is expected to have lingering livelihood impacts and likely lead to some slight crop production shortfalls, especially in the worst flood-affected regions in the eastern, northern, and western regions of the country. Field reports indicate that poor households in some of these flood-affected areas have replanted fast-maturing sorghum varieties, and their overall performance will rely heavily on the continued moisture in coming months. (FEWSNET, 5 Oct 2018)

Over 200,000 people in 15 of Sudan’s 18 states have been affected by heavy rains and flash floods between June and early November, according to the Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). This is almost double the 122,500 people affected by floods the same time last year. The worst affected states are Kassala (47,500 people), Sennar (33,800 people) and West Kordofan (33,200 people). (OCHA, 4 Nov 2018)