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Disease fear for flood-hit families

by Plan UK | Plan UK
Thursday, 5 September 2013 15:01 GMT

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

AID workers for Plan International are helping prevent disease outbreaks in the aftermath of widespread flooding across Sudan.

 

About 340,000 people are thought to be affected in the East African state, with more than 25,000 homes damaged or destroyed around the capital Khartoum, alone.

 

Schools have also been hit with Plan helping survivors, focusing on children and other vulnerable groups.

 

The children’s charity has provided shelter for survivors, 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.”

 

Aid workers for Plan have also distributed food and water to those in need, as well as providing spray pumps to help combat malaria.

 

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.

 

“Civil defence is continuing its efforts in pumping water from some affected schools, yards, houses and shops,” says Mr Awouda.

 

“Fumigations are ongoing to combat mosquitoes in most affected areas and there is still a need for mosquito nets, plastic sheeting for shelters and medicines.”

 

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