IFRC launches emergency appeal for Sudanese floods ‘unprecedented in magnitude’

(This story is an IFRC press release issued in Nairobi and Geneva Friday; it has been edited here for time references.)

The IFRC Friday launched an appeal for 12 million Swiss francs in additional funds to support the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in delivering assistance to people affected by flooding.

Since July, heavy rainfall has been escalating in Sudan and 16 of its 18 states are flooded.

Sinnar, Khartoum, and Al Gezira are the most affected states. Teams of Red Crescent volunteers are helping people to move to higher ground and providing emergency support to the most vulnerable people affected by the disaster.

SRCS President Elfadil Eltahir said: “The magnitude of the flooding disaster is unprecedented. The situation is getting worse as water continues to rise by the hour, covering new areas and causing more devastation.

“To cope with this dire situation, more humanitarian assistance is badly and urgently needed in order to alleviate the suffering of those affected, by protecting their health, life and dignity.”

‘The magnitude of the disaster is unprecedented.
The situation is getting worse by the hour,
covering new areas and causing more devastation’

The flooding has affected more than 500,000 people who are all in need of shelter, household items, health and care, water, hygiene, sanitation, food and other basic needs.

The SRCS will assist at least 200,000 of these people. Across the country, women, girls, children, older people and migrants, as well as people with disabilities and underlying conditions, remain at risk.

John Roche, IFRC’s Head of East Africa Office, said: “This is an unfolding situation as information comes from those on the front line. The testimonies of the devastation and loss are overwhelming.

“More than 100,000 homes so far are reported to have been carried away by the floods, crops have been destroyed, and access to clean drinking water becomes precarious as many face increased exposure to water- and vector-borne disease.”

The SRCS will use the funds from the emergency appeal to provide emergency-shelter materials, safe drinking water and hygiene items, primary health care to prevent disease outbreaks, psychosocial support, and cash grants for food and basic needs.

Communities and families want to stay close together and move as a group and it is difficult to implement Covid-19 preventive measures.

Climate priority

In addition, the funds will also help volunteers to share life-saving information on water-borne disease prevention, risk avoidance, and early warning systems on possible flooding or landslide threats.

More volunteers will be trained on how to conduct assessment and monitoring.

The Sudan floods are yet another example of the increasing climate risks we face around the world.
Global leaders such as IFRC President Francesco Rocca met last week to address these challenges during the global climate Climate:Red Summit, with 10,000 participants from 195 countries; he indicated that climate change is one of the IFRC’s top priorities for the coming decade.

It will require a combination of increased response to emergencies such as the one we now face in Sudan, but also increased efforts to help communities to adapt and reduce the rising risks.

New money from an IFRC emergency appeal will help Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers reach some 200,000 people affected by severe floods. (Photo: SRCS via IFRC)