Follow Us on Google
By Ezekiel David
Sudan’s ongoing conflict has been exacerbated by devastating floods triggered by heavy rains earlier this month.
Thousands have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the floods, which have devastated vast areas that were not affected by the conflict, such as the northern and eastern Red Sea states.
“We don’t have any food,” said Ahmed Hadab, who lost his home and livestock in eastern Sudan. “The sorghum and flour was taken by the torrent, and two of my goats and my donkey.” He and his family are now surviving on water mixed with milk from his last remaining goat.
People were observed using ropes to save one another from flooding close to Tokar. Freshwater supplies in Port Sudan, a city that has served as a haven for the government, relief organisations, and internally displaced people, are in jeopardy due to the collapse of the Arbaat Dam. There are at least 64 persons reported missing in the area, many of them are stuck and without access to food or help.
Other News
The floods have also impacted Darfur, damaging displacement camps and hindering aid delivery. The UN estimates over 300,000 people are affected by the flooding, which has also led to a cholera outbreak with over 1,351 reported cases.
The head of Sudan’s Early Warning meteorological unit, Abulgasim Musa, notes that his team had given warnings in May and blames climate change for the unprecedented rainfall in desert areas.
Aid attempts have been hindered by a lack of resources; there aren’t many construction vehicles available to help with evacuations and infrastructure repairs. “Homes are collapsed. There’s some who have been taken by the water and not been found,” stated Mohamed Tahir, a local living in the area devastated by the floods. “There are some who have died and they haven’t been buried.”
(Source: Reuters)
