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Sudan: Flash Update August 7, 2013 (issue # 2)

Countries
Sudan
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

Number of flood-affected people rises to over 121,000 across Sudan An estimated 121,000 people in eight states across Sudan have been affected by flooding following heavy rains since early August, according to various sources, including the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), the Khartoum State Commission for Voluntary and Humanitarian Work (CVHW), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the West Kordofan Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). Details are as follow:

• Khartoum (55,710)

• River Nile (33,025)

• West Kordofan (12,000)

• North Darfur (7,905)

• Blue Nile (6,430)

• Red Sea (3,950)

• Northern (1,031)

• South Darfur (1,020)

FLOOD RESPONSE COORDINATION

On 7 August, the Sudanese Permanent Mission had a meeting with OCHA in Geneva. The Sudanese Permanent Mission asked for the meeting to officially relay the Sudanese Government’s request – coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – for international assistance in view of the flood response. He noted that based on initial government assessments, nearly 100,000 people had been affected across northern and eastern Sudan and upwards of at least 12,000 homes destroyed or damaged. As the Government’s resources and existing stocks were reportedly limited and given the forecast for more rains, the international community - both in-country and in the region – was being asked to direct all available resources and material supplies towards the flood response, especially in terms of emergency shelter, food and non-food items. He added there were no access or security issues in the affected areas.

The Sudanese Permanent Mission clarified that the Ministry of the Interior was in charge of the overall response, under which the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) was responsible for coordinating the constituent government counterparts and line ministries within the High Council for Civil Defence (HCCD).

OCHA has requested the National Floods Task Force Focal Point and co-chair to continue requesting HAC to convene the National Floods task Force, which is the formal coordination body.
HAC has not yet activated the National Flood Task Force. OCHA continues to advocate with the authorities for thorough assessments to appropriately inform emergency response. Teams that travelled to affected areas in Khartoum on 6 August to assess the situation were told by the authorities that no assessment would be allowed, but only a tour of the area (without interaction with affected people).

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.