43 fatalities, at least 3 800 homes destroyed as heavy rains and floods hit Sudan

Sudan’s National Council for Civil Defense is reporting at least 43 people lost their lives while 3 838 homes were destroyed and another 8 514 damaged as a result of heavy rains and flooding affecting the country since the end of July 2021 when the rainy season started.

Floods affected more than 60 000 people across the states of Northern, River Nile, Khartoum, Al Jazirah, Gedaref, Sennar, Blue Nile, White Nile, South Kordofan, South Darfur, West Darfur and North Kordofan.¹

The worst affected was River Nile State, with over 27 000 affected, including 20 000 in Barbar where floods destroyed 1 738 homes.

As many as 7 710 people have been affected in Al Fao where 528 homes were destroyed.

The Nile river is above the danger mark in several locations in the country, FoodList reports.

As of August 22, the river stood above the danger mark at 16.12 m (52.8 feet) at Atbara, at 17.86 m (58.5 feet) in Shandi, and at 17.06 m (55.9 feet) in the capital Khartoum.

More heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over parts of northern Ethiopia, western Eritrea, and southern Sudan through the end of the month, ICPAC said.² Authorities and the public are advised to take appropriate measures to protect lives and livelihoods.

• Heavy to very heavy rainfall (top 10 – 5% on record) is expected in regions of southern Sudan (parts of white Nile, Sennar, Gedaref, Kordofan, and Darfur states), western and northern Ethiopia (parts of Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and Benishangul Gumuz), and western Eritrea. Total rainfall above 100 mm (4 inches) is forecast in these regions.  

• Moderate rainfall between 50 – 100 mm (2 – 4 inches) is expected over southern Sudan, northern South Sudan, central and western Ethiopia, and limited regions of Gash-Barka and Debub in Eritrea.

• Light rainfall less than 30 mm (1.2 inches) is expected over parts of central Sudan, western South Sudan, northern Uganda, parts of western and coastal Kenya, northern and southern Somalia, and coastal Tanzania.  

• Dry conditions are expected in Rwanda, Burundi, much of Tanzania, much of Kenya, central Somalia, southern Ethiopia, southern Uganda, south-eastern South Sudan, and northern Sudan.

References:

¹ Sudan – Floods in 12 States Affect 60,000 People and Destroy 3,800 Homes – FloodList

² Rainfall Forecast 24 – 31 August 2021 – ICPAC

Featured image: Exceptional Rainfall Forecast August 23 – 30, 2021. Credit: ICPAC