Sudan president defends government response to floods

July 29, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir defended his government against charges that that the sluggish response to the floods was a result of negligence.

Sudan has witnessed the heaviest floods in recent history that left a trail of destruction in central, southern Sudan.

Al-Bashir said that even though his government expected an increase in water levels, it was not expected that the surge would amount to 300% in some cases.

Sudanese columnists have criticized the government for its failure to assist those flood stricken areas. Some people in the affected areas clashed with police to protest lack of basic services following the floods.

Al-Bashir instructed governors and members of his cabinet to exercise “caution” in dealing with the floods.

Thousands of people have been displaced by heavy rains and flash floods across Sudan that has left 30 dead and scores injured.

Sudan’s Civil Defence authority said the floods had demolished 15,000 houses across Sudan and predicted that this year’s rainy season would be more severe than previous years.

Last year the river Nile reached levels in Khartoum higher than both 1988 and 1946 when the worst floods of the century hit Sudan.

(ST)