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HUGE swathes of farmland have been swamped across Sudan as the East African country reels from widespread flooding.
About 55,000 acres of crops have been wiped out, an area almost the size of metropolitan Birmingham.
Weeks of heavy rain have brought misery to 500,000 villagers, with more than 25,000 homes damaged or destroyed around the capital Khartoum, alone.
Schools have also been hit with Plan International helping survivors, focusing on children and other vulnerable groups.
The children’s charity has provided shelter for survivors, including tents, cookers, blankets and water filters.
Aid workers for Plan have also treated stagnant water and distributed medical equipment to a rural hospital.
“There are communities totally surrounded by water creating an environment for the spread of mosquitoes,” says Plan’s emergency response manager in Sudan, Kamal Awouda.
“As a result, the incidence of malaria and diarrhoea is expected to rise.”
Children in ten villages have been offered psychosocial support by Plan to help them recover from seeing their family life disrupted.
The charity is also preparing to help villages prepare for future emergencies and lessen the impact of floods.
With further poor weather forecast, Plan will continue to liaise with other NGOs and government departments during the crisis.
“Children are usually the worst affected in disaster. We’ll strive to ensure that children are protected and their needs are fulfilled,” says Mr Awouda.
- For more information visit www.plan-uk.org
