KHARTOUM, July 22 -- As Sudan enters its rainy season, concerns are mounting that heavy downpours and subsequent floods could exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis triggered by the armed conflict.

The Sudanese Meteorological Authority predicts above-normal rainfall across the country this year, a forecast echoed by the World Meteorological Organization. These predictions raise fears of widespread devastation, particularly for areas already grappling with the effects of civil conflict.

Over the past two days, heavy rains caused significant damage in Aroma town, located 61 km north of Kassala, the capital of the eponymous state in eastern Sudan. Local officials and residents reported to Xinhua that a mud barrier collapsed due to the deluge, flooding the town and destroying dozens of homes in Aroma and surrounding villages.

"The people of Aroma and its suburbs are suffering immensely due to these rainwater floods," said Adam Ahmed Abu Amna, the town's chieftain, highlighting the urgent need for food and shelter, as many affected residents are now homeless and unable to access markets.

"These are just the beginnings of the rainy season," Amna warned, reflecting widespread anxieties.

Ahmed Adam Hussein, a 70-year-old resident, lost his entire home in the floods. He emphasized the inadequacy of traditional mud-brick houses against heavy rains.

Mohamed Onur, another resident, echoed these concerns, appealing for government intervention. "The houses here simply cannot withstand such heavy rainfall," he said, urging authorities to provide relief to the devastated community.

Flooding is a yearly occurrence in Sudan, typically happening between June and October. This year, however, the ongoing armed conflict raises serious concerns about the impact on already weakened infrastructure and the environment.

Over the past three years, heavy rains have claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed vast swathes of agricultural land. Sudan ranks as the eighth most vulnerable country to climate change according to the University of Notre Dame's Global Adaptation Initiative.

The conflict, which began in mid-April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary groups, has claimed at least 16,650 lives, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The fighting has also displaced millions within Sudan and forced over 2.2 million to flee to neighboring countries.

  - Xinhua