Floods, Dam Collapse Intensify Suffering in Sudan 500 Days into the War

Port Sudan, 29 August – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling for increased support from donors and international community to sustain response to the rising humanitarian needs and displacement in Sudan compounded by the recent floods.

Scores of people are still missing following the collapse of Arba'at dam in Sudan's northeastern Red Sea State following heavy rains. An estimated 50,000 people have been affected according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Torrential rain has been causing havoc in the war-torn country since June, with warnings that 11 million people are likely to be exposed to exceptionally heavy rainfall in the coming days.

The dam collapse, which claimed at least 30 lives, comes on top of floods that have displaced more than 136,000 people across 14 states, as reported by the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix. An estimated 47 per cent of those displaced by the floods were already displaced due to the ongoing conflict. These disaster displacements are further deepening the country’s devastating humanitarian crisis after 500 days of a brutal war.

In response, IOM is mobilizing immediate humanitarian assistance for thousands of people, including shelter, non-food items (NFIs), hygiene kits, medical care and multipurpose cash assistance.

“The scale of this disaster is staggering, and the humanitarian needs are immense,” said Mohamed Refaat, IOM Sudan Chief of Mission. “Our teams are on the ground, relentlessly working to deliver life-saving assistance, but our resources are limited. More substantial support from international donors and partners is needed as we respond to multiple emergencies in the country. We are facing crisis after crisis, and the people of Sudan cannot afford to wait any longer for help.”

According to IOM estimates, more than 25,000 shelters and community infrastructures were destroyed by the floods forcing some displaced individuals to shelter with host communities and in schools, while many others are staying in the open, exposed to intense heat and rain.

In response to the new waves of displacement, IOM has delivered 12,000 hygiene kits, 27,900 non-food items, and 500 tents to support over 214,000 individuals in August. The response also includes cash assistance for 500 households, and grants to local organizations through the IOM-managed Rapid Response Fund (RRF), which will enable the prompt implementation of life-saving humanitarian interventions.

The conflict has caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including telecommunication networks, water supplies, and roads, further complicating efforts to respond to humanitarian needs.

Displacement continues to soar in Sudan, with over 10.7 million people seeking safety within the country, many displaced twice or more. Over the next three months, an estimated 25.6 million people will face acute food insecurity as the conflict spreads and coping mechanisms are exhausted. IOM calls upon the international community to significantly increase support to address the overwhelming needs.

 ***

For more information, please contact:

In Port Sudan: Lisa George, lgeorge@iom.int

In Cairo: Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int

In Geneva: Kennedy Okoth, kokoth@iom.int