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Sudan

Sudan floods: At least 365,000 directly affected, response ongoing

(Khartoum: 06 August 2007): Four weeks after torrential rains started to devastate many parts of the Sudan, the United Nations and partners, in support of the Government, have so far assisted up to half a million people affected by the floods. This includes aid of a preventive nature, designed to avert the huge risk of epidemics.

"Although the floods came earlier than expected, the response has been swift and successful. We had contingency measures in place, and were able to prevent further distress to the population", said David Gressly, acting United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country. "If current flooding patterns continue unabated, the situation will deteriorate considerably", he added. The rains are expected to continue until at least mid-September.

The areas worst affected are the states of Kassala, Khartoum, Northern Kordofan, Unity, and Upper Nile. Well over 30,000 houses were fully destroyed. At least 365,000 people have already been directly affected, including a reported 64 dead and 335 injured.

The United Nations and partners have so far supplied essential non-food items to approximately 200,000 people, whose indispensable household goods were lost in the destruction. Families received badly needed commodities, such as blankets, pieces of plastic sheeting to serve as shelter, jerry cans for carrying and storing clean water, cooking sets, and sleeping mats. However, it is estimated that many more people will need similar relief over the coming months.

Amidst the risk of waterborne epidemics, the lack of clean water has been a primary concern. In close cooperation with the Government, the United Nations and partners have so far provided water purification products and hygiene education to approximately 500,000 people without access to clean water, with over 1,400 kilograms of chlorine powder and 878,000 chlorine tablets already supplied. In Kassala near the Eritrean border, tankers have been delivering clean water to the most affected neighbourhoods, covering at least 10,000 people. Over the rest of the rainy season, clean water - potentially life-saving - will continue to be a priority need for hundreds of thousands.

Despite these preventive measures, 637 cases of suspected acute watery diarrhoea were reported in the states of Gedaref and Kassala in the country's east, leading to 39 known deaths. Emergency epidemic surveillance measures have been put in place, along with pre-positioning of preventive and curative health supplies. Over 34,000 people in the affected areas have received cholera awareness education.

In order to respond to the increased risk of potential diseases transmittable by insects, the United Nations and partners will endeavour to procure sufficient medical drugs, mosquito nets, insecticides, and other supplies, to cover all those in need until the emergency is over.

So far, 40,000 flood victims have received food, but the United Nations estimates that many more could soon be in need of emergency food rations.

"We are working closely with the Government, to reach accurate estimates of the needs of those affected, and of the funding requirements. This will ensure that, together, we maximise the efficiency of our efforts to bring relief to those in need", said John Clarke, the United Nations official at the forefront in coordinating the response to the floods.

For further information, please contact:

Maurizio Giuliano,
Public Information Officer, United Nations, Khartoum
Email: giuliano@un.org
Tel: +249-9-12174454

Stephanie Bunker, Spokesperson, United Nations Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), New York
Email: bunker@un.org
Tel: +1-917-3675126

Elizabeth Byrs, Spokesperson, United Nations Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Geneva
Email: byrs@un.org
Tel: +41-22-9172653

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