Recent heavy rains and floods have affected the lives and homes of more than 300,000 people in Sudan, killing at least 48 people, according to the World Health Organization. 

The collapse of about 50,000 emergency latrines and rising malaria rates have brought about significant health threats in affected areas, the WHO added in the organization’s Sudan health sector bulletin.   

A United Nations official in Sudan described the situation as a “huge disaster,” BBC News reported.

Due to poor urban planning and drainage, the capital Khartoum has been particularly susceptible to this year’s flash flooding, which has been noted as unusually severe.

AllAfrica reports:

Despite the large-scale impact of the floodwaters, [Sudan’s Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid] said the situation did not warrant declaring Sudan a "disaster area" which could potentially help solicit more external aid, stressing the situation is under control.

The government has faced increasing public backlash amid claims its flood preparations and response was grossly inadequate.

WHO says it is working to implement a range of health activities in cooperation with other international relief agencies operating in flood affected areas.

Emergency support is currently being mobilised, particularly food, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and health services.

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