Sudan: Flash Update August 12, 2013 (issue # 4)

Scaling up humanitarian response to flooding in Sudan

Overview

• Heavy rains that began in early August have caused floods, casualties and damages in infrastructures in several states with close to 150,000 people affected across Sudan.

• Khartoum State is severely affected with over 84,000 people whose houses were destroyed or damaged by heavy rains and floods, according to the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS).

• Further heavy rains during the last weekend have caused stagnancy of water in several places across Khartoum megalopolis due to lack of rainwater drainage system.

• More rains are expected during this week, which will likely to contribute to a further increase of water level, particularly of Blue Nile River. Any substantial increase of water level in Blue Nile River is likely to affect the Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum North areas.

• It is feared that additional rains will further deteriorate flooding situation in Khartoum State and may affect the movement of people, electric power supply, telephone communication and water supply system. In addition, access constraints due to stagnant flood water in some areas may disrupt transportation of basic goods, which may result in a short term shortage of goods and commodities in the local market.