Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has expressed Egypt’s solidarity with Sudan, following the latest wave of deadly floods that have hit Egypt’s southerly neighbour.
Al-Sisi also stressed Egypt’s readiness to present all support to the Sudanese government in handling the crisis.
A statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday, noted Egypt’s full solidarity with the government and people of Sudan in facing the repercussions from the floods that have swept across a number of Sudanese states. They have led to a number of deaths and widespread destruction across the country.
The statement said that Egypt’s solidarity is based on the solid fraternal ties that bind the people of the Nile Valley, and the common path and destiny that unites Egypt and Sudan.
Egypt also expressed its sincere condolences to the victims of the floods, and affirmed its full and continued readiness to coordinate with Sudan regarding the required humanitarian relief efforts. The Egyptian statement expressed confidence in the Sudanese government and people in overcoming the floods.
The Sudanese Security and Defense Council announced a three-month nationwide State of Emergency, on Saturday, to handle the aftermath of this year’s floods.
According to the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA), the council approved the state of emergency plan, and has formed a high committee to supervise the situation.
The unprecedented floods have so far left 99 dead, and injured 46 others. Some 100,000 houses have also been at least partially destroyed, with 60,000 totally demolished as a result of the floods. A total of 500,000 Sudanese citizens have suffered losses due to the natural disaster.
The River Nile’s water levels in Sudan have hit record levels this year, reaching more than 17 metres, and breaking all records.
Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council, chaired the Security and Defense Council meeting on Friday evening at the Republican Palace. During the meeting, he reviewed reports on the flood for the current year and examined the size of the human and material losses and damage that have affected 16 states across Sudan.
The Sudanese Minister of Labour and Social Development, Lina Al-Sheikh, said in a press statement after the meeting, “The rates of floods and rains for this year have exceeded previous records, with indicators pointing to a continuing rise.”
