Rising floodwaters, caused by torrential rainfall, breached a dam, leading to the obliteration of approximately 20 settlements, causing the demise of at least 30 individuals in east Sudan, according to a statement by the United Nations on Monday. This catastrophic event has further ravaged a region already suffering from prolonged civil conflict.
The torrent caused the Arbaat Dam, located 40km north of Port Sudan – the acting seat of government and a haven for displaced persons, scrambling international aid workers, diplomats, and the government – to be overwhelmed on the previous Sunday.
Devastating impacts of the damage are clearly visible, as the usually bustling area is now unrecognisable due to the destruction of water and electricity infrastructure, stated Omar Eissa Haroun, leader of the water department for Red Sea state, in a message to his team.
Casualty reports vary, but a responder at the scene confirms that between 150 and 200 people are unaccounted for. The destruction seen is likened to the catastrophe in Derna, the eastern Libyan city, in September of the previous year, when floodwaters breached dams, destroyed buildings, and took countless lives.
On Monday, heading towards Arbaat, a journalist from Reuters witnessed locals intern a deceased man in a grave protected with driftwood to deter potential mudslide disruption.
The deluge impacted the dwellings of around 50,000 residents, stated the United Nations, referencing local authorities. The reported figure, however, only covers the area west of the dam as the eastern side remains unreachable.
The breached dam served as the primary water source for Port Sudan, the location of the primary Red Sea port and operational airport and gateway for most of Sudan’s crucial aid supplies. The Sudanese Environmentalists Association predicted a looming water shortage for the city in an issued statement.
Before its breach, the dam showed signs of deterioration, coupled with silt accumulation from consecutive days of heavy rainfall that arrived earlier than anticipated. These are testing times for a nation whose infrastructure, including dams, roads, and bridges, were already degraded before the conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Forces paramilitary group erupted in April 2023.
In recent times, the focus has shifted majorly to the war, which has resulted in a significant neglect of essential infrastructure. This has led to a severe displacement of people from their flood-hit homes, who are now trapped in the mountain areas, as reported by the health department. On Monday, according to the government’s monsoon response team, the fatalities due to flooding nationwide had almost doubled to 132 from 68 in a fortnight. United Nations agencies have reported the displacement of at least 118,000 individuals due to the intense rainfall this year.
The origin of the ongoing clash in Sudan can be traced back to the rivalries between military factions and the RSF, who formerly shared power after a successful coup, but eventually ended up in full-blown combat. The two parties were driven to safeguard their political control and substantial economic stakes while global forces were advocating a shift towards civilian governance.
Saudi- and US-led ceasefire negotiations in Jeddah were initiated. However, despite such initiatives, the hostile situation has shown no sign of a decrease, and almost half of the country’s 50 million residents are facing food shortages. – Reuters
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