HIGHLIGHTS

• Heavy rains and flooding have affected over 102,000 people across the country since the start of the rainy season in July, according to the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).

• Close to 15,000 homes were damaged and over 5,500 homes destroyed.

• Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in southern and central parts of the country between 7 and 14 September, according to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC).

• The Government, led by HAC, and humanitarian partners have started the provision of life-saving assistance to affected people.

• Prepositioned relief items are being depleted and with the increase in the number of people affected, there is an urgent need to replenish stocks.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Heavy rains and flash flooding have so far been reported in 13 out of 18 states across the country. The affected states include Aj Jazirah, Blue Nile, Gedaref, Khartoum, North Kordofan, Northern, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan and White Nile. As of 9 September, over 102,000 people across the country have been affected by rains and flooding. A total of 5,500 homes were destroyed, 14,900 homes damaged, and an unconfirmed number of public infrastructures and farmlands affected. Further assessments will take place in Blue Nile, and Sennar states to verify the needs and the number of people affected.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in western, southern and central parts of the country, according to the ICPAC 7 to 14 September 2021 forecast, increasing chances of flooding. Moderate rainfall between 50 and 100 mm is expected over the southern parts of the country, and light rainfall is expected over central Sudan.

RESPONSE

Humanitarian partners continue to provide food and non-food items (NFIs) to people affected by floods in West Darfur, South Darfur, Gedaref, Khartoum, and River Nile states. About 11,250 people received one-month food rations, 1,350 children received Plumpy Doz, and 10,000 people received complementary food items in Gedaref, Aj Jazirah and North Kordofan states. Over 34,000 people received shelter and NFIs (S/NFIs) in Aj Jazirah, Gedaref, North Kordofan, and Northern states, and about 1,000 families received WASH assistance. In Blue Nile State 100 Dignity Kits were distributed to affected women and girls in Wad Al Mahi locality. The gender-based violence (GBV) sub-sector is coordinating for the distribution of more dignity kits and are working at strengthening life-saving interventions.

The Sudan Protection Sector has shared the Flood Response – Protection Mainstreaming guidelines to all humanitarian agencies and organizations requesting them to consider it during assessment and response activities.

Despite ongoing efforts, flood response in some of the affected states has been delayed for various reasons, while the number of people affected by heavy rains and flooding is increasing. There are low stocks of relief supplies in shelter, education, child protection and gender-based violence. The S/NFI sector has NFI stocks for about 130,000 people and the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector for about 100,000 people. If flooding continues, available stocks will need to be replenished to be able to respond to other ongoing humanitarian response activities. Some states reported limited access to people in affected localities and in states such as West Kordofan, humanitarian assistance has been delayed due to ongoing security challenges. In White Nile response has been delayed due to prolonged verification processes and access to people affected by flooding in Aj Jabalain locality can only be done by boat. In South Darfur, the limited capacity of humanitarian partners and competing humanitarian priorities, particularly in responding to conflict-related displacement, have impacted flood response. In Northern and Al Jazirah states humanitarian assistance is limited due to lack of humanitarian partner presence.

In support of the flood response, the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) has allocated US$7.7 million to 14 NGOs in 15 states to finance swift humanitarian response when needed. In addition, some $7 million has been allocated to four UN agencies for the procurement of emergency stocks. Another $3.5 million is available for flood rapid response activities.

RESPONSE BY STATE

Aj Jazirah State

On 1 September, over 3,700 people were affected by flash floods in Al-Safa village in Um Algura locality in Aj Jazirah State. An assessment team composed of HAC, Civil Defence, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), Save the Children (SC) and other partners started assessing the village on 8 September. About 700 families (3,500 people) in Um Algura locality received 20-day food rations while about 10,000 people need immediate food and NFI assistance. Humanitarian assistance in Al Jazirah needs to be scaled up as there are few humanitarian partners present in the state.

Gedaref State

According to preliminary findings of an inter-agency assessment, over 47,000 people were affected by heavy rains and flooding in Gedaref State. Local authorities and humanitarian partners are providing food, S/NFIs, WASH and health assistance to families affected in Al Fao, Al Mafaza, and Basundah localities.

About 11,250 people in Al Mafaza and Al Fao localities received food assistance including 2,134 people who received dry food rations from the food security sector in Al Mafaza town. Another 400 families in Al Mafaza town received complementary food baskets which included 10kg of flour, 5kg of sugar, 2kg rice, 2kg of lentils, 2 litres of oil, 2 mosquito nets and 1 plastic sheet per household.

In Al Fao locality, about 500 families received NFI kits containing 2 jerry cans, 3 blankets, 3 sleeping mats, 2 plastic sheets and 1 kitchen set. Of the 500 kits, 200 kits were distributed to displaced people in the Unified camp. Also in Unified camp, 20 latrines and 10 showers were built, and 64 tents and 160 plastic sheets were distributed. In addition, 18 tents, 300 plastic sheets, 40 packets of soap, and 3,000 mosquito nets were distributed to 300 families.

A mobile clinic started operating in Al Hawata area of Ar Rahad locality targeting 8,000 people including those affected by floods. Consultative meetings were held between the World Health Organization (WHO), the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to agree on the deployment of medical staff and allocation of medical supplies.

Despite the large impact of flooding in five localities in Gedaref State, response is low. Anecdotal evidence indicates that 50 per cent of food needs for people affected by flooding is being met, but the response is low in WASH, S/NFIs and health assistance. People affected by floods in Al Hawata area have yet to receive assistance.

Khartoum State

On 3 September, over 6,000 people (1,507 families) were affected by heavy rains and flooding in Karrari (1,300 families), Bahri (202 families), and Jebel Awlia localities in Khartoum State, according to preliminary reports. An inter-agency assessment led by HAC and SC was conducted on 8 September, and findings will be shared.

Over 620 families affected by floods received S/NFI kits in Al Sunut and Al Manar areas and humanitarian partners are supporting efforts to open and rehabilitate drainage systems, as part of vector control activities.

River Nile State

On 2 September, over 720 people were affected by flooding in Al Buhaira and Al Matama localities of River Nile State which is one of the most flood-affected states with over 39,000 people affected. Humanitarian assistance has been limited due to the lack of humanitarian partners in the state. SRCS and SC are providing health, WASH and NFI assistance to affected families.

Over 2,050 families received 3-day food rations in Al Matama (200 families), Abu Hamad (200 families), Barbar (200 families), Shendi (200 families), Atbara (200 families) and Al Buhaira (200 families) localities. The rations include rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, and salt. A Primary Health Care (PHC) mobile clinic is currently operating in five areas in Babar locality.

Sennar State

On 2 September, over 4,600 people (983 families) were affected by heavy rains and flooding in seven localities of Sennar State. Preliminary reports indicate that over 11,300 people have been affected by heavy rains and flooding in Sharg Sennar, As Suki, Ad Dinder, Sinja, Abu Hujar and Ad Dali localities. Inter-agency assessments will be carried out in affected localities to identify the priority needs of people affected.

West Kordofan State

On 5 September, over 595 people (139 families) were affected by flooding in Al Khiwai and Wad Bandah localities of West Kordofan State. An inter-agency assessment will be carried out to identify the priority needs of those affected. Since the start of the rainy season, over 4,500 people have been affected by heavy rains and flash floods in the six localities of Al Khiwai, An Nuhud, As Salam, As Sunut, Keilak and Wad Bandah in West Kordofan State.

White Nile State

Between 4 and 6 September 2021, over 61,000 people (12,000 families) were reportedly affected by flooding in 53 villages in White Nile State’s Aj Jabalain locality. This includes 35,000 South Sudanese refugees in Alganaa area, according to findings of an inter-agency multi-sectoral needs assessment carried out on 8 September 2021. Some refugees in Alganaa refugee camp and the host community have relocated to nearby open spaces and Al Alagaya refugee camp in Aj Jabalain locality. Other affected people have sought shelter in schools and health centers. Most of the people in the areas affected depend on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods and an unconfirmed area of farmland has reportedly been affected by the floods.

Following the rising levels of the Nile River, the evacuation of about 1,000 families from flood-prone areas to higher ground in Guli locality started with the support of local authorities and the community. Flood water prevention structures were constructed or strengthened to protect some of the families residing in flood-prone villages. Access to Umm Batota and Al Sharqiah villages in Guli locality remains difficult due to the floodwaters and are only accessible using tractors and boats.

Apart from the immediate evacuation of affected people to higher grounds, other urgent needs include shelter, food, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health assistance. Humanitarian partners, in support of the government, are mobilizing resources for the response.

South Darfur State

Since the start of the rainy season, an estimated 9,400 people have been affected by heavy rains and flash floods in the five localities of Beliel, Ed Al Fursan, Gereida, Nyala Janoub and Nyala Shimal in South Darfur State.

Over 449 families received full NFI kits in Otash internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Nyala Shimal locality. The kits included a plastic sheet, jerry cans, kitchen sets, blankets, and plastic mats. Over the past two weeks, 125 out of the 1,878 families affected by floods received S/NFI assistance in South Darfur. There are plans to provide NFIs to an additional 1,000 families in the second week of September.

West Darfur State

Since the start of the rainy season, an estimated 5,600 people have been affected by heavy rains and flash floods in Kulbus and Ag Geneina localities in West Darfur State. Four IDP gathering sites in Ag Geneina were severely affected and have become uninhabitable. Discussions are underway to relocate the affected IDPs. Significant damage has also been reported in nine other gathering sites and Ardamata and Al-Riyad IDP camps in Kulbus and Jabel Moon localities.

Protection partners carried out protection monitoring visits to all affected camps and gathering sites in Ag Geneina. Based on the findings, affected families in Ag Geneina have been provided with NFIs. Protection partners continue following up with authorities on the relocation/return of affected families. Individual cases, including those in need of psychosocial support (PSS) and those that have lost their identification documents (IDs), have been identified and referred for assistance.

The S/NFI sector identified 15 gathering sites that were badly affected by rains and flooding. About 965 IDP households in 13 gathering sites have received NFIs. Verification of IDPs has been completed and distribution of NFIs is continuing in the 13 gathering sites. A total of 38 households in two gathering sites received emergency shelter kits. Support is also ongoing in Al Riyadh camp where around 600 shelters were damaged, and verification is ongoing.

The rehabilitation of schools affected by heavy rains and flooding in Ag Geneina, Jebel Moon and Beida localities has started. However, due to the lack of funding and limited response capacity of education partners, urgent support is needed. Heavy rains and floods have affected over 88 schools, including 156 classrooms that have been damaged and nine others destroyed. In addition, 68 latrines were damaged, and three school fences collapsed. For more information see the OCHA Sudan Floods: People and Areas Affected Dashboard