OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Sudan - Floods
21 August 2001


This report is based on information received from the OCHA office in
Sudan.

Situation

1.  The Government of Sudan (GoS) requested the UN to provide assistance
in kind and services to respond immediately to the urgent needs of
disaster-affected people on Sunday 19 August.

2.  According to government reports, flash floods and the Nile river's
seasonal rising waters have affected ten states. The most adversely
affected are Kassala, River Nile and South Darfur States.

3.  The number of people who have died since the beginning of floods (mid
July) has reached three, all in Khartoum State. In total, an estimated
61,545 persons have been affected, 14,000 of whom are in Kassala.

4.  2,240 houses were completely destroyed and 2,798 partially damaged in
56 villages. Infrastructure in the River Nile State was especially hit.

5.  The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) of the GoS reported that flash
floods have affected Kassala, South Darfur, West Darfur, Gezira, North
Kordofan, River Nile, Sennar, Gedaref, Khartoum and White Nile while heavy
floods of the river Nile system have particularly affected Khartoum, River
Nile and Sennar.


Needs

6.  Needs identified so far by the National authorities in the
above-mentioned areas are tents, plastic sheets, medicines, water pumps,
sanitation, food and empty sacks (for sand). Further assessments will give
a precise picture of overall needs.


National and international response

7.  On Sunday 19 August, the GoS sent a letter to the United Nations
Resident Coordinator's Office in Khartoum, requesting UN assistance to
respond to needs of disaster-affected people.

8.  HAC, UN agencies and NGOs met on Saturday 18 August and planned two
assessment missions to be sent to Sinnar and Atbara. The first mission
left on Monday 20 August and the Atbara assessment will be carried out on
22 August by helicopter due to flood related limited access. Another UN
inter-agency meeting is scheduled after the end of the two assessments
missions (Thursday 23).

9.  Contributions reported to OCHA as of 21 August are of USD 131,017 from
Germany and OCHA Sudan. Germany has made available DEM 270,300 (approx.
USD 121,017) through the German Red Cross. OCHA Sudan provided USD 10,000
(as reported in Situation Report n°2).

10.  OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for
immediate relief needs. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in
coordination with the relevant organisations of the UN System and OCHA
will provide written confirmation of their use.

11.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA
Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions
and their corresponding values by items.

12.  OCHA remains in close contact with OCHA / UNDP offices in Sudan and
will revert with further information.

13.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA website at http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Thierry Delbreuve / Mr. Max Bonnel
  Direct tel: +41-22-917 1638 / 1457

Press contact:
  Ms. M. Moulin-Acedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 31 60


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