Sudan floods hit 21 areas, raising disease fears amid health system collapse

August 3, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – At least 21 areas across Sudan have been affected by heavy rains and flooding, the Health Ministry’s emergency committee said on Sunday, amplifying fears of disease outbreaks as forecasters predict an unusually wet season for the conflict-ravaged nation.

The warning comes as the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre forecasts above-average rainfall for Sudan this year, thereby heightening the risk of waterborne diseases in a country where the health system has been severely impacted by conflict.

In a statement, the committee said 14 localities and 21 areas were impacted in the states of Gedaref, Gezira, River Nile, and Central Darfur. At least 133 families were directly affected by the floods between July 30 and August 1, it added.

The head of the committee’s technical body, Khaled al-Jamri, stated that a meeting was held to discuss developments and coordinate preparedness among government sectors and aid partners.

He noted that the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim, has requested a detailed report on the state of readiness, available resources, and existing gaps in the response.

While the rainy season can be a disruption for city dwellers due to poor infrastructure, it is the primary source of income for millions of Sudanese who work in agriculture.

However, malnutrition rates typically rise during the rainy season, a period from June to October known as the “lean season,” as most households have depleted their food stocks from the previous year’s harvest.