SUDAN: Floods wreak havoc in Sudan's Kordofan and Kassala provinces

Flash floods caused by heavy rains have led to the deaths of at least 20 people and destroyed 15,000 houses across central and eastern Sudan in recent weeks. The government has announced a state of alert in the areas affected and sent tents to help shelter victims. "The floods endangered our homes, this one is much stronger than the one in 2003," said one flood victim. The vast pools of stagnant water have raised fears of water-borne diseases and malaria. Officials blamed residents for not heeding warnings to evacuate before the seasonal rains began to fall. They also claimed that some of the houses were built in the path of floods or too close to rivers in violation of the law. "We have suffered, there was a lot of damage, our houses were destroyed but we think everything will be fine," added another victim. Mothers and children camped out on salvaged bed frames, surrounded by the few possessions rescued from their compounds as the floods hit. "It happened very early in the morning. My neighbours helped me, we did our best but the flood was too strong," said one villager. Last year the river Nile reached levels in Khartoum higher than both 1988 and 1946 when the worst floods of the century hit Sudan. Government sources said at least 27 were killed in 2006 and almost 10,000 houses were partially or completely destroyed.

ITN Source | July 19, 2007

Tags:. .government. .recent. .few. .fall. .early