The United Nations World Food Programme is scaling up its emergency food assistance to reach nearly 160,000 people hit by devastating floods that have affected nine states of Sudan, WFP said Thursday in a statement.
“Rains and floods have been much worse than anyone could have anticipated, causing a national disaster,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Sudan, Hameed Nuru.
”People have lost their homes, farmlands, schools and loved ones. Some of these people have lost everything.”
The flooding is the worst Sudan has seen in nearly a century. According to the Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission, 650,000 people have been affected since the start of the rains in mid-July.
WFP provided initial emergency food assistance to 7,200 people and distributions for 40,000 people are currently ongoing, the statement said.
“WFP is working tirelessly with the Government of Sudan and partners to get food out to the affected people. Together, we are trying to scale up the number of people reached every day,” he added.
WFP is planning to distribute two-week rations to flood-hit households in Khartoum, East and North Darfur, White Nile, North and West Kordofan, Red Sea, Sennar, and Kassala.
Since the start of flood season, WFP has taken part in some 20 assessment missions to guide interventions and identify people who are most in need. The agency has transported three tonnes of food supplies provided by the government to flood-affected people in Bout town in Blue Nile state.
As more assessments are underway, the number of flood-affected people requiring food assistance is likely to increase.
With the heavy rains making access to affected areas difficult, WFP has facilitated rapid needs assessments and delivery of assistance using the WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Air Service, according to the statement.
The devastating floods come at a time when hunger levels remain alarmingly high in Sudan with increased and protracted displacement, economic decline and inflation, and high food price hikes, exacerbated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“WFP is also working to implement all necessary precautions during distributions to minimize the risk of contacting or spreading COVID-19 and ensure the safety of staff and the people we serve,” Nuru said.
Germany's Federal Foreign Office, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and the United States Agency for International Development have donated to WFP’s flood response, the statement noted.
