Floods in Sudan destroy infrastructure and lead to internal displacements

AT least 24,860 homes have been destroyed and 48,250 homes damaged by floods in 16 of the 18 states of Sudan this year, according to the Sudan Situation Report by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released on Dec,2022. According to the Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), humanitarian organisations on the ground, and local authorities, the number of people affected by seasonal rains and flash floods across Sudan has remained constant at 349,000 since 26 September,this year.

According to the report, the most affected states according to the report are are South Darfur (79,937 people), Gedaref (64,685 people), Central Darfur (41,747), White Nile (34,357), and Kassala (25,890). The other affected states are Northern (18,046), West Darfur (17,354), River Nile (16,572), North Kordofan (15,235), Aj Jazirah (8,715), West Kordofan (6,030), South Kordofan (5,768), Sennar (5,379), and East Darfur (3,650), with more limited impact in Khartoum (2,741), and North Darfur (2,621).

People have reportedly lost over 4,800 heads of livestock, and over 12,100 feddans (about 5,100 hectares) of agricultural land have been affected by floods which will increase the rist to food insecurity.

The rainy season in Sudan usually starts in June and lasts up to September, with the peak of rains and flooding observed between August and September. Annually, an average of 388,600 people were affected by floods between 2017 and 2021. This year, the number of flood-affected people surpassed those affected in 2021 (about 314,500).

According to Sudan’s 3rd Flood Response Report, the Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) estimated that about 15,000 people, mostly women and children, were displaced from  Juguma village to Tuktuka village and that at least 48 people were killed and another 17 injured as a result fo the floods. The victims are currently in of need shelter, food, and health services.

As of August 14, torrential rains and floods destroyed about 8,900 houses and damaged another 20,600 in 12 states. The National Council for Civil Defence reported on 13 August that 52 people died and another 25 injured since the beginning of the rainy season.

The report also states that by early December 2022, the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) received US$825 million in funding out of a total requirement of $1.94 billion, where by around $12 million will be carried over to 2023, to cover the needs coming from emergency shocks taking place before May 2023, when new contributions are expected to arrive to the SHF.