Sudan declares state of emergency as flood death toll increases

The Government of Sudan has declared a national state of emergency for the next three months as massive floods which have resulted into several deaths are projected to continue.

Lina Alsheikh, the Minister for Labor and Social Care made this declaration on Saturday September 5, 2020, after a death toll which reached 99 was recorded.

While in an emergency meeting of the defense and security council, Lina said, “Around half a million people have been affected by the floods, while more than 100,000 houses are fully or partially destroyed.”

She added that “The floods are the highest in the country since 1946 and may continue as the rain has not stopped in various areas.”

Sudan has warned last week that the Nile River is the highest in a century, topping 18 meters (59 feet) in some areas.