The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) warned that heavy rains and floods in Sudan have displaced tens of thousands of people, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis after more than a year of conflict. In a press conference on Friday, the agency reported that the floods have caused further displacement, injuries and deaths, exacerbating the ongoing emergency. Sudan’s federal officials say the heavy rains and resulting floods have affected 11 states. At least 53 people have died, 208 injured and nearly 10,000 families have been displaced. The worst affected areas are Red Sea State, Kassala and West Darfur.
UNHCR spokeswoman Olga Sarrado highlighted the crisis during a press conference in Geneva, noting that the last two weeks of Sudan’s rainy season had affected more than 11,000 people. They included refugees and communities in the eastern state of Kassala, including families who recently fled violence in Singa. “Some have been displaced three or four times since the conflict began,” Sarrado said.
“They have lost their belongings, including food rations, and face great difficulty in accessing clean water and sanitation, increasing the risk of water-borne diseases.” She also reported that over 400 shelters in the Shagarab refugee camps in Kassala have been destroyed, leaving many people living in precarious conditions.
UNHCR and its partners are helping those most affected. Tents are being erected on newly identified land to house 800 families made homeless by the floods. But with more rain expected in the east and west of the country, there are concerns that the situation could worsen. The agency is stockpiling supplies, cleaning sewers and building dams to protect camps and communities in vulnerable areas.
The floods have also hit Darfur hard, where aid agencies are already struggling to reach those in need. Humanitarian needs in the region have reached “epic proportions,” according to the UNHCR. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are at risk and famine has been confirmed in Zamzam refugee camp.
Their statement added that the ongoing conflict has wiped out crops and destroyed livelihoods, while the climate crisis has made displaced people even more vulnerable. Flooded land has made farming and livestock farming impossible, exacerbating food shortages in areas already suffering from drought and conflict.
Residents of villages in Kassala have also reported severe water pollution as mining waste has mixed with drinking water. Although they have informed the authorities, locals fear no immediate solutions are in sight. Concerns are growing about potential health risks, including kidney failure and cancer, that could arise from contaminated water.
UNHCR has launched a regional appeal for $40 million to assist 5.6 million refugees, returnees and internally displaced people in East Africa, including Sudan. But so far the agency has received only $5 million, limiting its ability to respond effectively. Local sources say the full extent of the damage is difficult to assess due to ongoing flooding and communications disruptions.
Dongola in northern Sudan reported on Saturday that the death toll from flooding had risen to 14, including four children who died from scorpion stings. Thousands of houses have collapsed and the state health ministry reported 84 injuries and damage to 18 government buildings.
In West Darfur, volunteers set up community kitchens to provide meals to those affected in El Geneina. At least 7,000 homes were reportedly damaged or destroyed in the country’s capital on Saturday.
