The Sudanese Health Ministry has announced that flash floods triggered by heavy rains have claimed 77 lives and left 227 people injured across the North African country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry’s department of emergency and humanitarian work said one of the victims died in an apparent electrocution, while the injuries were mainly due to the collapse of walls in the affected areas.
The statement further noted that heavy rains and floods have hit 51 localities in 15 states, and the total number of the affected households stands at 36,256.
The states of Khartoum, Kassala, River Nile, North Darfur and White Nile are badly hit by flooding.
Moreover, 15,234 homes have been completely destroyed while 20,604 others were partially destroyed. The Health Ministry has set up 94 emergency clinics in the affected areas. Malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, and pneumonia along with eye infection are the major diseases reported.
Aida Sayied, the Sudanese Red Crescent’s health director, said the society’s staff and volunteers are working to support those affected by the floods.
"We have opened a clinic in Gadain area of Khartoum State and we have been providing medicine. Unfortunately, stocks ran out after one day," he said, adding, "We urgently need medicine to cater for patients coming in for treatment."
The Sudanese Red Crescent is monitoring the situation closely in coordination with the government and other partners providing humanitarian assistance to the flood-affected people.
According to reports from the emergency teams, those affected are in urgent need of shelter, food, household items, health services, and water and sanitation facilities to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
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