Sudan – The Sudanese authorities announced, on Monday evening, that the death toll from the floods and torrents that have been sweeping the country for weeks has risen to 132 people, while the collapse of a dam in the Red Sea State has led to the flooding and damage of dozens of villages.
Heavy rains in recent weeks have caused flooding that last Sunday submerged the Arbaat Dam, just 40 kilometres north of Port Sudan, which has become the country’s de facto capital and home to government, diplomats, aid agencies and hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
The Sudanese government’s emergency room said in a statement that the death toll from floods and torrents had reached 132 in 10 states by Sunday, while the number of affected families had risen to 31,666, including 129,650 individuals.
The Chamber added that the number of houses that collapsed due to floods and torrents amounted to 12,420 houses that completely collapsed, and 11,472 houses that partially collapsed.
Last week, the Ministry of Health announced that the death toll from floods and torrential rains that swept through several states had risen to 76 since last June.
The head of the Red Sea State Water Authority, Omar Issa Haroun, said in a WhatsApp message to employees that the features of the area could no longer be recognized, and that “the situation is catastrophic… the floods have removed water pipes and electricity poles in the area.”
According to eyewitnesses, the dam’s surging waters flooded at least 15 villages, while about 30 other villages were partially damaged.
The United Nations quoted local authorities as saying that the homes of about 50,000 people were damaged by the floods, and that this number only includes the area west of the dam because it is difficult to reach the area east of it.
Yesterday, Monday, rains, floods and seasonal flooding of the Khor Baraka River swept through the city of Tokar in the Red Sea State, causing deaths, the collapse of hundreds of homes and the displacement of about 500 families, according to a previous statement by the International Organization for Migration.
The dam, which has a capacity of 25 million cubic metres, provided drinking water to the city on the Red Sea.
The collapsed dam was also the main source of water for Port Sudan, the country’s main port on the Red Sea, its functioning airport and the country’s main aid shipment.
The Sudanese Environmentalists Association said in a statement, “Arbaat Dam is the main source of water for the city of Port Sudan, and the collapse of the dam threatens the city with thirst in the coming period.”
Local media reported that its collapse forced some families to seek shelter in mountainous areas, and those trapped will likely need helicopter assistance to evacuate.
It also reported that the authorities intensified their efforts to rescue dozens of people trapped in the mountains after the collapse of the Arbaat Dam.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said yesterday, Sunday, that about 317,000 people across Sudan have been affected by heavy rains since last June, which has displaced 118,000 of them.
According to the UN refugee agency, about 25 million people, nearly half of Sudan’s population, need humanitarian assistance and protection, as those in the country face shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel, amid a deadly cholera outbreak.
Rainfall in Sudan usually begins at the beginning of June and continues until October of each year.
This year’s flood damage coincides with the ongoing suffering caused by a war waged by the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023, leaving about 18,800 dead and nearly 10 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
There have been increasing calls from the United Nations and international organizations to spare Sudan a humanitarian disaster that could push millions to famine and death due to food shortages due to the fighting that has spread to 12 of the 18 states.
Source: Agencies
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2024-08-28 07:11:12
