Sudan’s Health Ministry reported on Monday that at least 32 people have lost their lives, and 107 others have been injured due to recent torrential rains and floods impacting several Sudanese states.
“Seven states have been affected by the rains and floods, and 5,575 homes have been damaged,” stated Al-Fadil Mohamed Mahmoud, the director of the general directorate of health emergencies at the ministry.
The heavy rains and subsequent flooding have resulted in numerous cases of watery diarrhoea, with 102 cases reported in Kassala state, four in Khartoum state, and 16 in Gezira state. Mahmoud noted that health conditions in other states remain stable, but the ministry is prioritizing necessary measures to combat rainy season epidemics.
Previously, the Sudanese Meteorological Authority had warned of rising water levels in the Gash River, which flows through Kassala city, the capital of Kassala state. Residents were advised to remain vigilant and avoid the riverbanks.
Flooding is an annual issue in Sudan, typically occurring between June and October. Over the last three years, severe rains have claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed large areas of agricultural land.
This year’s rainy season has added to the suffering of those affected by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since April 15, 2023, the conflict has claimed at least 16,650 lives and displaced an estimated 10.7 million people internally, with around 2.2 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, according to UN data released on Monday.
