国际英语新闻:Continuing heavy rains, floods impact 220,000 people in Sudan: UN spokesman

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The continuing heavy rains and floods have impacted nearly 220,000 people in 17 of Sudan's 18 states, a United Nations spokesman said Monday.

"More than 20,000 houses have been completely destroyed and an additional 20,000 more have been damaged," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at a regular noon briefing.

Some 2,000 water sources have now been contaminated or are non-functional, compromising access to clean water in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

The collapse of the Bout Earth Dam in Blue Nile State on July 29 could impact 100,000 people's access to water, said Dujarric, adding that the government and aid organizations are providing plastic sheeting, tents, medicine, water purification supplies and mosquito nets. In Darfur, they are providing shelter, and water and health assistance.

"The quick response has been possible because UN agencies and our partners prepositioned supplies for 250,000 people before the rains started," said the spokesman.

"But our colleagues warn that supplies are being depleted rapidly and more support, including from donors, is urgently needed."

"We, along with our partners, are appealing for 1.6 billion U.S. dollars to provide critical aid in Sudan this year, but only 43 percent of that appeal has been received," he added.