By Adel Abdelrheem and Mohammad Sio
KHARTOUM, Sudan / ISTANBUL (AA) – At least 2,800 people have been displaced and 660 homes damaged by heavy rains and floods in eastern Sudan, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday.
The UN agency said flooding struck several villages, including Dar Al-Salam, Bazoura, and Um Al-Khair in Gedaref State.
“Field teams estimate that 560 houses were destroyed and 100 houses were partially damaged. Displaced individuals reportedly sought shelter with host communities within the same locality,” the organization said.
On Wednesday, Sudanese authorities reported 14 deaths from floods and heavy rains in the Nile River State in the north and Sinnar State in the southeast, causing the collapse of hundreds of homes and affecting thousands of residents.
Sudan typically experiences heavy rains during the fall season, from June through October, often triggering large-scale annual flooding.
These natural disasters occurred as the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting a war since April 2023 that has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 14 million, according to the UN and local authorities. Research from US universities, however, estimates the death toll at around 130,000.