Sudan: floods destroy South Sudan camps.

Over 100,000 South Sudanese refugees who are stranded on the outskirts of Sudanese capital Khartoum have been affected by floods.

Torrential rain has hit Khartoum over the weekend.

Speaking to Eye Radio from Khartoum, Chief Gabriel Khamis Dimo, who is in charge of Takamul Two Camp, says there is fear that an outbreak of waterborne diseases from stagnant bodies of water will occur:

“For our camp, we are located near the cemetery and there are limited toilet facilities and people are forced to go and defecate in the cemetery and the flooding water washed all the human feces into the camp now the situation in the camp is terrible indeed. All the shelters are standing in water,” he said.

Chief Gabriel also said that the camps are desperate for assistance, as they feel abandoned.

“Last year there was an NGO that helped us with plastic sheets, but they withered off and the tents are just without plastic sheets. The situation in the camp is very bad indeed. Movement to and from all the camp is difficult,” he said.

At Andolos camp is located south of Khartoum. Engineer Natali Ngor Ungom, told Eye Radio that South Sudanese refugees are living in a deplorable condition in the camps:

“I have visited most of the camps and just spoke to the people in all the camps there are no tents at all, all have been destroyed, and there are no drinkable water, and there is no clean drinking water and people are suffering now and people cannot move in and out of the camp, “ he said.

Mr. Ungom said that he had petitioned the Humanitarian Aid Commission but that they did not come to see the conditions in the camps.

“The Government of South Sudan should see what it should do to help rescue these people since it has a diplomatic mission here in Khartoum,” he said  “We are waiting to see what the government can do for these people who are suffering with their children.”

Chief Khamis Dimo and Engineer Natali Ngor, are urging the Government of South Sudan to call on the international humanitarian agencies to rescue South Sudanese in the camps outside Khartoum.

Although no deaths have been reported amongst South Sudanese refugees in camps, thirty eight people are reported to have been killed by floods in the different states of the Sudan.