40,000 Sudanese families affected by rains and floods: SRCS

August 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) on Monday revealed that 40,620 families have been affected by the heavy rains and floods that hit the country recently.

At a press conference held on Monday, SRCS secretary general Osman Gaafar said his organization provides assistance to the affected population directly and not through any government agency, pointing the aid is being distributed with high level of transparency.

He added that aid was so far distributed to 48,6% of the affected, expecting the current ratio would increase to 76% the during this week.

Gaafar pointed they received significant assistance from the Arab nations, saying that a Saudi air cargo plane carrying aid for the affected has arrived this week.

He stressed that more than 21,000 houses have been completely destroyed by the rains and flood, saying about 1400 SRCS volunteers are helping to distribute the assistance.

The Sudanese authorities had earlier said more than 100 people were killed by rain and flash floods.

Earlier this month, the United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cited Sudanese government and humanitarian partners as saying that heavy rain and flooding since early June have affected over 122,000 people and destroyed over 13,000 houses in many parts of Sudan.

The most affected states are Kassala, Sennar, South Kordofan, West Kordofan and North Darfur.

(ST)