Sudan declares state of emergency as flood death toll rises to 99

Sudan has announced a three-month long state of emergency following floods which have claimed the lives of 99 people, the country’s state news agency report.

The Sudanese Security and Defense council, which declared the country as a “national disaster zone”, said that a committee had been formed to coordinate a response to the crisis.

Lena el-Sheikh, the country’s minister of labour and social development, said that the flooding had impacted half a million people and resulted in either the partial or total damage of over 100,000 homes.

Heavy seasonal rains in the neighboring Ethiopia caused much of the floods, with the Nile River rising to nearly 17.5 meters at the end of August – its highest level in 100 years, according to the Sudanese authorities.

The minister also said that this year’s rain and flooding broke records set in 1946 and 1988 amid fears of continued rising indicators.

States hit-hardest include Khartoum, Blue Nile and River Nile. The UN has additionally reported damage in the Gezira, Gadarif, West Kordofan and South Darfur region.

The UN is supporting the national response through providing emergency shelter and supplies to households, as well as water, hygiene assistance and health services.

While the UN response has been fast, with supplies for 250,000 people pre-positioned before the rain started, it is now calling for wider support from the international community as its stocks are diminishing.

The country’s rainy season begins in June, continuing through to October, causing the country to experience floods and torrential rains annually.

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