Tuesday, August 27, 2024 In eastern Sudan, a catastrophic event occurred when a dam, overwhelmed by surging waters, collapsed and caused widespread destruction. This disaster, which took place approximately 40 km north of Port Sudan, the de facto national capital, resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people. However, many more are feared dead, as numerous individuals remain missing.
The United Nations reported on the tragedy on Monday, highlighting the severe impact on a region already suffering from months of civil war. The bursting of the Arbaat Dam, brought on by torrential rains, led to devastating floods that wiped out at least 20 villages. According to local reports, the disaster impacted the homes of about 50,000 people, with the figure only accounting for areas west of the dam.
The eastern side remains inaccessible, suggesting that the full extent of the damage may be even more severe. Omar Eissa Haroun, head of the water authority for Red Sea state, described the area as “unrecognizable,” noting that both electricity and water infrastructure had been completely destroyed. A first responder on the scene reported seeing the bodies of gold miners and wrecked equipment, drawing a comparison to the tragedy in Derna, Libya, where storm waters burst dams, swept away buildings, and killed thousands in September the previous year.
On the road to Arbaat, a Reuters reporter observed residents burying a man, using driftwood to cover his grave in an attempt to prevent it from being washed away by mudslides. Port Sudan, home to the country’s main Red Sea port and a crucial hub for aid deliveries, faces an uncertain future following the destruction of the dam. The Arbaat Dam was the city’s main water source, and with its collapse, the Sudanese Environmentalists Association warned that the city is now “threatened with thirst in the coming days.
” This situation could severely impact the distribution of aid and exacerbate the already dire conditions for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people residing in the city. The disaster has highlighted the crumbling infrastructure in Sudan, which was already in disrepair before the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. Heavy rains, which had arrived much earlier than usual, further weakened the dam, leading to its eventual collapse.
The ongoing conflict has drained resources from essential infrastructure maintenance, leaving roads, bridges, and dams vulnerable to such catastrophes. As the rainy season continues, the situation across Sudan is becoming increasingly dire. The government’s rainy season taskforce reported that 132 people had been killed in floods across the country, a significant increase from 68 deaths just two weeks prior.
United Nations agencies estimate that at least 118,000 people have been displaced by the rains this year alone. The events in eastern Sudan will likely have profound global effects, particularly on travelers and aid workers who frequent the region. With Port Sudan’s infrastructure severely compromised, the distribution of aid and the movement of people within the country could be drastically hindered.
Travelers may face heightened risks as the region becomes increasingly unstable due to both the natural disaster and ongoing conflict. The conflict in Sudan, which began as a power struggle between the army and the RSF, has exacerbated the nation’s vulnerability to natural disasters. The war, driven by the two sides’ efforts to protect their power and economic interests, has diverted resources away from essential infrastructure, leaving the country ill-prepared for such crises.
Efforts by the international community to broker a ceasefire, including talks led by Saudi Arabia and the United States in Jeddah, have so far failed to stem the violence. Meanwhile, half of Sudan’s 50 million people lack sufficient food, further compounding the humanitarian crisis..
