Sudan's 'worst floods in years'

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Nearly 40 people have died after floods destroyed thousands of homes in Sudan, aid agencies say.

The floods, described as the worst in years, have displaced some 2.4m people in eastern Sudan and parts of Khartoum.

Sudan's head of civil defence, Hamadallah Adam Ali, said 20 people are in hospitals and major roads have been destroyed.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are appealing for $1.75m to assist flood victims.

Police helicopters and government planes are flying emergency aid and tents to the affected areas.

?So far, more than 35,000 homes have been either damaged or destroyed and local authorities believe that 39 people have lost their lives,? Gunnar Strom, the International Federation's head in Sudan said.

Mr Strom says in a statement that people in 16 out of 26 states in Sudan will be affected by the floods.

Rains, flash floods and overflowing rivers have forced hundreds of families to seek the main roads which are on higher grounds.

Meteorological experts say the rainy season is expected to continue until mid-October.

Mr Ali said people who had built homes in high risk areas near river banks and in flood prone plains had ignored government warnings.

Sudan is mostly arid desert at other times of the year and uses the water from the River Nile for agriculture.