Floods Devastate Eastern Sudan: Dam Burst Claims Lives and Wreaks Havoc

 

Surging floodwaters have breached the Arbaat dam in eastern Sudan, resulting in the destruction of at least 20 villages and causing significant loss of life, according to the United Nations. The disaster, triggered by torrential rains, has left at least 30 people dead, with the death toll expected to rise as the situation unfolds in a region already ravaged by months of civil conflict.

The dam, located 25 miles north of Port Sudan, was overwhelmed by intense rainfall on Sunday, causing severe flooding that has devastated the area. Omar Eissa Haroun, head of the water authority for Red Sea state, described the scene as "unrecognizable," reporting extensive damage to essential infrastructure, including electricity and water systems.

First responders reported that between 150 and 200 people are missing. The flooding has claimed the lives of several goldminers, with their equipment scattered and wrecked by the floodwaters. The situation has been compared to the catastrophic floods in eastern Libya's Derna last September, where similar storm-related dam breaches resulted in massive destruction and loss of life.

The UN has stated that around 50,000 people have been affected by the flooding west of the dam, though the true extent of the damage on the eastern side remains unclear due to inaccessibility. The dam was crucial for supplying water to Port Sudan, which serves as the main port and airport for the country, critical for humanitarian aid and logistics.

The Arbaat dam had been deteriorating due to accumulating silt and was in poor condition even before the current conflict began. The ongoing civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which started in April 2023, has exacerbated the situation. Resources have been heavily diverted to the conflict, leaving much of the country’s infrastructure, including dams, roads, and bridges, neglected and in disrepair.

In response to the crisis, the Sudanese government’s rainy season taskforce reported that the death toll from floods across the country has risen to 132, up from 68 two weeks ago. The UN estimates that at least 118,000 people have been displaced due to this year's floods.

Efforts are ongoing to provide aid and support to those affected, but the scale of the disaster and the ongoing conflict pose significant challenges to relief efforts.