The United Nations refugee agency said Friday that flooding in Sudan has hampered assistance distribution to places where many people are already suffering from starvation and famine, including a camp in North Darfur for those fleeing continuous violence.
According to a statement from the agency, the torrential rains and flooding have affected at least 11,000 individuals across the country, many of whom have been uprooted.
Since violence broke out over a year ago between the military and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, much of the country has been plunged into a humanitarian crisis. North Darfur and Darfur, the country’s western districts, have seen some of the most catastrophic violence and displacement.
A July report on hunger conditions released by the The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, found it likely that parts of North Darfur — especially the Zamzam camp — are experiencing the worst form of hunger known as IPC Phase 5.
The IPC said the famine conditions in Zamzam camp were fueled by the conflict and “severely restricted humanitarian access.”
Around 320,000 people are believed to have been displaced in Al Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, since mid-April, according to the IPC, at least 150,000 of whom are believed to have moved to Zamzam camp by May to find the necessities of life. The population in that camp has expanded to more than half a million in a few weeks.
Heavy seasonal rains have created rising floodwaters in parts of Sudan this week, and forecasts predict more storms in the coming days.
Sudanese local media reported on Wednesday that 17 people died in the northern city of Abu Hamad due to the floods, though authorities have yet to release an official death toll for casualties throughout the country.
An emergency team with the Sudanese Red Crescent concluded that 3,000 homes were destroyed in Abu Hamad.
Sudan’s national weather service on Wednesday released a flash flood warning valid until Aug. 13 for heavy rains and thunderstorms in states including Khartoum, Gezeira and North Darfur.
