Flash floods destroy homes, displace dozens in Sudan’s North Darfur

Severe downpours and flash floods have ravaged communities in Sudan’s North Darfur state, destroying 108 homes and uprooting dozens of families, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Wednesday. The storms struck Kabkabiya on Tuesday, where 62 homes were obliterated and 62 families left homeless, according to the UN agency. Those affected have taken refuge in temporary sites set up in open areas around the town, the IOM added in a statement.

Second town hit by flooding

In a separate report, the IOM noted that its field teams had documented the destruction of 46 homes in Shangal Tobay, also on Tuesday, displacing a further 46 families. As in Kabkabiya, the displaced residents have sought shelter in open spaces within the town, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian assistance. The floods are part of Sudan’s annual rainy season, which typically runs from June through October and frequently causes widespread inundation across large swathes of the country.

Compounding crisis amid ongoing conflict

The latest flooding comes as Sudanese civilians continue to bear the brunt of a devastating war between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023. The conflict has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced or forced approximately 15 million people from their homes, according to UN and local estimates. The combination of seasonal floods and armed conflict has created a dire humanitarian situation, with many families left vulnerable to both natural disasters and violence.