Flash floods kill five in North Darfur camps, over 30 injured

 September 3, 2024 (EL FASHER) – Five people were killed and more than 30 injured on Tuesday when torrential rains and flash floods swept through two overcrowded camps for displaced people in Sudan’s North Darfur state, a human rights activist said.

Sudan is experiencing an unprecedented increase in rainfall during the autumn season, which began in June, causing devastating floods and significant loss of life and property.

“Five deaths and more than 30 injuries were recorded following the collapse of displaced people’s homes in the Kassab and Fata Barnu camps in the locality of Kutum,” Mudather Hussein Mustafa told Sudan Tribune.

He said large parts of Kutum locality have witnessed high rainfall since last August, leading to flash floods and severe flooding that destroyed numerous homes, farms and public facilities. Floodwaters also inundated farms and cut off roads, exacerbating the suffering of citizens.

Mustafa called for humanitarian organizations and civil society to assist those affected, including food aid and shelter materials for families who lost their homes.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have controlled the entire Kutum locality, located northwest of El Fasher city, since the early days of the war between the army and the RSF.

Most areas in Kutum suffer from a severe shortage of food and medicine due to the lack of humanitarian aid and restrictions imposed by the RSF on commercial vehicles. Rains and floods have further compounded the difficulties by cutting off roads.