UAE sends aid to Sudan as floods leave thousands homeless

More than 100 people have died in floods that have swept the country

Aid is loaded on to an aircraft at Dubai's International Humanitarian City to be delivered to Sudan, where heavy flooding has displaced thousands of people. Wam

Aid is loaded on to two flights at Dubai's International Humanitarian City for delivery to Sudan, where flooding has displaced thousands of people. Wam

Aid is loaded on to two flights at Dubai's International Humanitarian City for delivery to Sudan, where flooding has displaced thousands of people. Wam

Aid is loaded on to an aircraft at Dubai's International Humanitarian City to be delivered to Sudan, where heavy flooding has displaced thousands of people. Wam

Two aircraft carrying vital aid were sent from the UAE to Sudan to provide relief to the thousands who were made homeless by extreme flooding.

An Emirates Sky Cargo B777 left Dubai International Airport for Khartoum on Saturday morning, while a second plane was sent on Sunday.

Each carried about 100 tonnes of relief cargo supplied by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Sudan is suffering its worst flooding in decades, and in September authorities there declared a three-month state of emergency.

A Sudanese man stands in flood waters in Tuti island, where the Blue and White Nile merge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. AFP

A man passes on the side of a flooded road in the town of Alkadro, about 20 kilometres north of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. AP Photo

A Sudanese man holds bags to build a barricade to walk in flood waters in Tuti island, where the Blue and White Nile merge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. AFP

Sudanese people stand in flood waters in Tuti island, where the Blue and White Nile merge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. AFP

A Sudanese resident catches a fish in floodwater in the capital Khartoum's southern neighbourhood of al-Kalakla. AFP

A Sudanese man builds a barricade in Tuti island, where the Blue and White Nile merge. AFP

Enshirah Sharaf, left, a Sudanese psychologist, speaks next to victims of recent flooding at an education centre hosting them on Tuti island, where the Blue and White Nile merge between the twin cities of the capital Khartoum and Omdurman. AFP

A man passes on the side of a flooded road in the town of Alkadro. AP Photo

A man walks beside a flooded road in the town of Shaqilab, about 24 kilometres southwest of the capital, Khartoum. AP Photo

As of October 4, more than 860,000 people were affected by the floods, about 166,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, and more than 100 people died.

Soaring inflation led to jumps in the cost of food, a situation made worse by damage to food crops and livestock just before harvest season.

Water sources have also been destroyed or contaminated, and stagnant water could spread diseases. As the rainy season continues, the risk of more damage is high.

"Sudan is the in midst of a major humanitarian emergency. Thousands of families are homeless, hundreds of thousands of lives have been devastated. About half of the affected population are children," said Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of IFRC.

He said each aid flight would provide emergency shelter and household items to support about 5,000 families who have lost their homes and livelihoods, as well as sanitation equipment to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.

IFRC is working with Sudanese Red Crescent to distribute food and emergency items. SRC is also providing psychosocial support and helping families move to higher ground.

The aid delivery was organised from Dubai's International Humanitarian City.