20120813
Press TV
The UN says at least 1,000 families have been affected by flooding in the impoverished eastern Sudan as some rural communities have been cut off by the rising floodwaters.



More than 600 families lost their homes in the Wadelhilewe district of the Kassala state, while almost 400 others escaped the flooding and sought safety at a refugee camp, known as Kilo 26, in the state's Khashm El Girba district, Felix Ross of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Saturday.

"Families have been out in the open for several days," the official said.

He added that floodwaters have prevented the UNHCR from accessing two other villages, Arab 1 and Arab 2, in Khashm El Girba where a smaller number of people are believed to have been affected.


According to Ross, flooding was first reported more than a week ago and UN agencies provided the people with tents, mosquito nets, plastic sheeting, blankets, and kitchen sets.

"It's a real disaster," said Khashm El Girba district chief, Yahya Mohammed Ahmed.

Thousands of people have lost their homes and access to drinking water, or have been cut off by the floodwaters, he said, adding that no deaths had been reported so far.

"We expect more rain and more water in the coming days, which will worsen the situation," he added.

Flooding has also affected at least 14,000 people in the Darfur region of western Sudan over the past week, the UN humanitarian agency said.