The Flooding in Sudan

Since mid-July of this year, Sudan has been hit with unpredicted flooding and storms that have left many citizens in Khartoum, North Darfur and Sennar injured and without a home. These severe conditions have prompted Sudan’s Security and Defense Council to declare a national state of emergency for three months and designate Sudan as a “natural disaster zone”.

Sudan and the Nile river have a history of flooding, especially during their rainy season which typically lasts from July to October. The flooding that is happening right now, however, involves an inordinately heavy amount of rain and is breaking all sorts of records in size. The Nile has risen to 17.58 meters, or around 57.68 feet, a terrifying new height.

To put this disaster in perspective, one of our team members, Deema Osman, interviewed her relatives in Sudan and asked them to describe the current situation. Here’s what her great-aunt had to say:

"Ever since the floods emerged, life has been tough on everyone. The floods broke down people’s homes causing them to leave their homes with no belongings. Many people have become homeless and are living on the streets. Schools have been provided as a shelter for those who have become homeless. When entering a school you will see about 4-5 families living in one classroom. The floods also destroyed our farms, because of this grocery prices have risen very high.”

So far there have been at least 124 reported dead, and 100,000 homes have been destroyed in at least 16 Sudanese states. Humanitarian aid has been slow to arrive, likely due to coronavirus and the downfall of the Sudanese economy. Staple items (such as bread and sugar) have become 50% more expensive, and many Sudanese residents fear that both the prices, and the damage, will continue to worsen.

Ways to Help:

• Consider donating to the following organizations:

  • Sudan Flood Emergency Relief - Flood Emergency Crisis Fund

  • Sudan Flood Emergency Relief - Assist People with Recovery

  • Donate to UNHCR and support people in South Sudan today

  • https://www.krcs.org.kw/Donation/Sudan-Flood-Relief

• Share this blog post with others to raise awareness and support for this prevalent issue!

Sources:

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/families-struggle-heavy-rain-floods-expected-sudan-200919072754620.html

• http://floodlist.com/africa/sudan-state-of-emergency-floods-september-2020

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/2020/09/16/sudan-floods-nile-rivers/

• https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/147288/record-flooding-in-sudan

• https://theconversation.com/steps-sudan-must-take-to-prevent-future-flood-destruction-146117

Written by: Lydia Jensen

Infographic by: Ariana Pina