Heavy rains and subsequent floods have claimed the lives of at least 12 people in Kassala State, eastern Sudan, according to a statement by Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim on Saturday.

The downpours, which began on Friday, caused widespread damage to homes and submerged large parts of displacement camps, exacerbating the suffering of thousands already displaced by conflict. The Sudanese Meteorological Authority had issued a warning about rising water levels in the Gash River, urging residents to stay away from the riverbanks.

Flooding is a recurring problem in Sudan during the rainy season, typically from June to October. The past three years have seen hundreds of fatalities and extensive agricultural losses due to heavy rains. This year's floods are further compounding the humanitarian crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The UN International Organization for Migration reported in June that over 7.7 million people have been internally displaced within Sudan since the conflict erupted last April. Additionally, around 2.2 million Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries. (ILKHA)