Nearly 830 000 affected as Sudan faces ‘unprecedented challenges’ amid worst flood in century

Heavy rains and major floods continue to pose unprecedented challenges in disaster-stricken Sudan where 124 people have died and nearly 830 000 have been affected. Humanitarian workers are struggling as funds are running out, which are necessary to continue operations to assist flood victims.

Hundreds of thousands of houses have been damaged or destroyed, while wide swaths of farmland have been affected just before harvest.

Nearly 830 000 people have been affected as heavy rains and flooding were continuing to pose unprecedented challenges for the victims, and the funding to respond is extremely low.

The country, which is gripped by multiple crises, including the COVID-19 outbreak, polio, and armed conflict, only received 15 percent of the 110 million dollar budget necessary for healthcare needs, and only 22 percent of the requested 71.6 million dollar budget for water and hygiene.

"Aid organizations are running out of support and more funding is urgently needed," said UN OCHA.

Earlier in September, Sudan has declared a state of emergency for three months due to the catastrophic flooding across 16 states, which has killed 124 people.

The Blue Nile River has reached more than 17 m (56 feet), the worst in nearly a century, according to the Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation. 

Many volunteer teams in the country have been involved to help alleviate the damage, including trying to set up barriers between rivers and villages, as well as providing medical help to those injured.

Volunteer groups also sprayed disinfectants to kill mosquito larvae as water-borne diseases rapidly increased since the floods.

UN OCHA warned that the situation could further worsen in the coming days as more rains are forecast across Eastern Africa. 

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