Floods impact nearly 220,000 people in Sudan, kill 63

Ongoing heavy rains and floods in Sudan have impacted nearly 220,000 people, destroyed 20,000 houses and damaged 20,000 others, according to Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Speaking at a regular noon briefing on Monday, Dujarric said the floods have affected 17 of the country's 18 states.

He said 2,000 water sources have been contaminated or are non-functional as a result of the floods, compromising access to clean water amid the coronavirus pandemic that has so far infected over 12,300 people and killed more than 790.

"The collapse of the Bout Earth Dam in Blue Nile State on July 29 could affect 100,000 people's access to water," Dujarric said.

The spokesman's comments came a day after the country's Ministry of Interior reported that 63 people have been killed by the floods since July.

According to the government's Humanitarian Aid Commission, Gezira and Kassala are the hardest-hit states so far, followed by Red Sea, North Kordofan, South Darfur, West Kordofan and Northern.

As of Aug 14, at least 14 schools had been damaged across the country and more than 1,200 livestock had been lost. Additionally, several hectares of crops have been affected in the middle of the agricultural season.

Jesuit Refugee Service, an international Catholic organization that focuses on refugees and displaced persons, said on Tuesday the extensive infrastructural damage to bridges and roads in Sudan has prevented humanitarian access to communities whose livelihoods are primarily dependent on humanitarian assistance.

The organization said all humanitarian actors have reported serious flood damage within their own office compounds, warehouses and staff housing facilities.

"Many of the facilities that Jesuit Refugee Service uses are also damaged, with student learning and sleeping areas among the worst affected," it said in a statement published in its website.

The government, led by Humanitarian Aid Commission, and humanitarian partners are closely monitoring the situation and providing life-saving assistance to people who lost their houses, food and livelihoods.

In particular, they are providing plastic sheeting, tents, medicine, water purification supplies and mosquito nets. In Darfur, they are providing food, shelter and water, as well as health assistance.

Dujarric said the quick response has been possible because UN agencies and partners pre-positioned supplies for 250,000 people before the rains started.

"But our colleagues warn supplies are being depleted rapidly and more support, including from donors, is urgently needed," he said. "The UN, along with our partners are appealing for $1.6 billion to provide critical aid in Sudan this year, but only 43 percent of that appeal has been received."

Typically, Sudan receives heavy rains between June and October, with the country facing severe flooding annually.