Severe flooding hits four northern states

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has sent out an urgent appeal for funding to help assist victims of heavy rains which hit parts of northern Sudan between 3 and 8 August, causing severe flooding and rendering thousands homeless.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Federation said floods had caused extensive damage in the northern states of Western Kordofan, White Nile, Al-Jazirah and Khartoum, where the thousands of displaced people were facing serious health risks from poor access to clean water and sanitation facilities, the statement said.

According to the Federation, the area worst hit by the floods was Al-Nahud town in Western Kordofan, where at least 25,000 residents were facing severe health risks as a result of the flooding. About 20 villages in White Nile, and 26 in Al-Jazirah had also been affected. In Khartoum State, heavy rains coupled with flash floods had hit about 126 houses in Al-Safa village, south of Omdurman, it added.

The worst effects of the flooding had been found in Al-Nahud town, where thousands of homes had been washed away. Here the population was facing immediate health risks due to lack of shelter, clean water and sanitation, the statement said.

Initial surveys carried out by the authorities, the Sudanese Red Cross and Crescent Society and humanitarian organisations, found that 3,000 families in the town had completely lost their homes, while the huts of 1,933 others had been partially damaged, according to the statement. Over 600 latrines and a number of public facilities had also been affected.

The Federation said the most immediate needs for the affected people comprised plastic sheeting or tents, blankets, essential medicines and medical equipment, water purification materials, mosquito nets and water pumps, as well as a month's food ration for 25,000 people.

Support for staff and volunteers to be involved in the emergency operation in the affected states was also needed. "Cash contributions are therefore urgently needed to cover the cost of deployment of staff and volunteers for assessment, transportation of materials and the local purchase of water purification, sprayers, drugs and blankets," the Federation said.