HIGHLIGHTS
• At least 114 people have reportedly died as a result of heavy rain and flooding, which also affected over 160,000 people and destroyed about 14,700 houses in Sudan.
• About 90,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge and assistance in Sudan since the beginning of 2016, according to UNHCR and partners.
• On 10 August, the Government of Sudan and UN agencies launched the Nutrition Investment Case for Sudan.
Estimated 160,000 flood-affected people in Sudan
Heavy rain and flooding since early June have affected an estimated 161,700 people, destroyed about 14,700 houses and damaged another 10,800 homes in many parts of Sudan, according to the Government of Sudan and partners. At least 114 people have been reportedly killed. The most affected states are South Darfur, Kassala, Sinnar, West Kordofan, Gedaref, Al Gezira and North Darfur.
Sudan's Food Security Technical Secretariat reported in a July update that the State Meteorological Authority records indicated 2.5 times higher rainfall during July 2016 compared to the same month in 2015. It is anticipated that flooding will continue throughout the rainy season (June to September/October), during which flooding usually occurs annually.
According to the UN, about 1.5 million people were affected by floods in and around Khartoum in 1988. Flooding in 2013 affected up to 500,000 people across Sudan, according to the Government of Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).
Efforts are ongoing to verify the number of people affected, identify their needs and obtain an overview of the response to date. The government-led National Flood Task Force in coordination with key actors is continuing to monitor the impact of rains and flooding and coordinate the response.
Government authorities, local communities and in some areas national and international humanitarian organisations are responding to the needs arising from heavy rains and flooding.
The UN and partners have stepped up their flood response. The assessment of needs of over 10,000 families reportedly affected by the floods and in need of emergency shelter and essential household supplies is underway in various states, including North Darfur,
South Darfur, Kassala, West Kordofan, North Kordofan, White Nile and Khartoum. Over 4,000 verified families have already been assisted and additional emergency shelter and essential household supplies will be released once reported caseloads in need are verified.
In Kassala state, WFP is conducting distributions of emergency food assistance for El Niño-affected communities. Two locations targeted in the El Niño response, Toglai and Bahardabloub villages in Rural Aroma locality, were also affected by floods. In these locations, WFP has assisted 2,422 people with 39 metric tonnes of food assistance comprised of 270 grams per person per day of cereals for two months.
Most flood-affected people in South Darfur
South Darfur State has the highest number of people affected by floods (34,000), while Kassala has the highest number of casualties and houses destroyed because of rains and flooding. Among those affected by floods in South Darfur are hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kalma and Otash IDP camps.
On 10 August 2016, UNICEF received reports that according to a rapid assessment in Kalma IDP camp, about 1,730 latrines have collapsed or are flooded or damaged. The disinfection of the flooded latrines has been carried out as an immediate measure. In addition, about 450 IDP shelters have been affected by rains and flooding.
About 2,000 empty sacks for lining the emergency latrines have been distributed and the procurement and mobilisation of materials for 150 emergency latrines is ongoing.
Intensive hygiene promotion, water treatment and quality monitoring and stock of sanitation tool kits are also underway. In addition, 27 vector control workers have been trained to carry out spraying of potential larva sites