Sudanese authorities on high-alert after floods “killed 32 people”

August 12, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese ministry of interior has declared a state of national emergency in order to confront a wave of floods that already led to the death of 32 people and displacement of thousands, according to official figures.

The minister of interior, Ibrahim Hamid, revealed while addressing the national council for civil defense in the capital Khartoum on Saturday that floods caused by heavy rainfall in different parts of the country have so far led to the death of 32 people, 35332 animals, injury of 35 people, total destruction of 4722 houses, partial destruction of 10317 houses, 854 public facilities and172 warehouses. He also revealed that 15 villages along Atbara River had been destroyed by the rains.

Mahmoud said his ministry was declaring a state of national emergency to move the affected populations to safe areas and provide them with food and health assistance.

Furthmore, local authorities in the eastern state of Kasalla announced on Sunday said that 35,000 people had been displaced after floods destroyed more than 3300 houses. The government of Kasalla appealed for assistance to help more than 10,000 families affected by the floods.

Kasalla’s deputy governor, Magzoub Abu Musa, told the Sudanese Media Center (SMC) that the health situation in the affected villages was stable but there is a need for more health and sanitation assistance. He added that the authorities are trying to contain health conditions through allocation of health teams to every village and provision of drinking water and shelters.

However, he admitted that the scale of the crisis is bigger than the state’s capabilities, urging the federal government and philanthropists to aid the affected village.

The UN also confirmed on Sunday that more than a 1000 families were affected by the floods in eastern Sudan. Likewise, in the western region of Darfur, the UNHCR said that no less than 14,000 people have been affected by the floods.

Meanwhile, weather-forecasting authorities have warned that the situation is set to get worse in light of indications that the rates of rainfall are estimated to increase towards mid-August.

According to Abdullah Khiar, the head of the weather forecast corporation, current readings show that mid-August will witness rates of rainfall exceeding those witnessed in the last thirty years.

Heavy rains already drove the levels of the Nile River to unprecedented levels, the ministry of water resources announced on Sunday, warning citizens to take the necessary precautions to save lives and properties.

(ST)