Surging waters have breached the Arbaat Dam in eastern Sudan, resulting in the destruction of at least 20 villages and causing the deaths of at least 30 people, with the toll likely higher, according to the United Nations. This disaster strikes a region already grappling with the effects of months of civil war.
Torrential rains overwhelmed the dam, located just 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Port Sudan, the de facto national capital and hub for government, diplomatic, and aid activities, as well as for hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals.
“The area is unrecognizable. The electricity and water infrastructure have been destroyed,” reported Omar Eissa Haroun, head of the water authority for Red Sea state, in a WhatsApp message to his staff.
A first responder indicated that between 150 and 200 people are missing, and reported seeing bodies of gold miners and wreckage from the disaster. He compared the devastation to the catastrophic flooding in Derna, Libya, last September, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
On the road to Arbaat, a Reuters reporter witnessed people burying a deceased man and covering his grave with driftwood to prevent it from being washed away by mudslides.
The UN reported that approximately 50,000 people’s homes have been affected by the flooding, though this figure only covers areas west of the dam; the situation to the east remains inaccessible.
The dam, crucial for Port Sudan—home to the country’s main Red Sea port and airport—was the primary water source for the city. The Sudanese Environmentalists Association has warned that Port Sudan faces a severe water shortage in the coming days.
Infrastructure in Sudan has been deteriorating, with dams, roads, and bridges already in poor condition before the outbreak of the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. The ongoing war has diverted resources from infrastructure maintenance, exacerbating the crisis.
Many residents have fled their flooded homes to seek refuge in the mountains, only to find themselves stranded. The government’s rainy season task force has reported 132 flood-related deaths nationwide, up from 68 two weeks ago. The UN estimates that at least 118,000 people have been displaced by the rains this year.
The conflict in Sudan began due to tensions between the army and the RSF, who had previously shared power following a coup. Efforts by the international community to mediate and transition towards civilian rule have not succeeded in halting the fighting, leaving half of the 50 million population without adequate food.
Source: Reuters
