Heavy rains, floods kill 12 in eastern Sudan

At least 12 people died as a result of heavy torrential rains and floods that swept through Kassala State in eastern Sudan.

Sudan’s Health Minister, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, announced this in a statement on Saturday.

On Friday, heavy rains and floods impacted several cities in eastern Sudan, causing extensive damage to homes and flooding large portions of shelter centres for displaced people.

The floods exacerbated the plight of thousands residing in these shelters.

In an earlier report, the Sudanese Meteorological Authority had expected a rise in the water levels of the Gash River, which flows through Kassala city, the state’s capital.

Authorities urge citizens to be alert and stay away from the banks of the seasonal river.

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Flooding is a yearly occurrence in Sudan. It typically happens between June and October.

Over the past three years, heavy rains have claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed vast swathes of agricultural land.

This year’s rainy season has further compounded the hardships faced by those affected by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The UN International Organisation for Migration published data in June, showed that more than 7.7 million individuals have been internally displaced within Sudan.

This figure is since the conflict began last April, with approximately 2.2 million others seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. (Xinhua)