The Arbaat dam in Sudan’s eastern Red Sea state collapsed late Saturday following heavy rainfall, causing extensive flooding and leaving dozens missing, local officials and media reported. The incident adds to the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, which includes widespread displacement and a recent cholera outbreak.
Sudan’s health ministry confirmed in a statement Sunday that the dam, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Port Sudan, had collapsed. The ministry reported at least four fatalities but did not provide an estimate of those missing.
However, local sources paint a grimmer picture. Amr Eissa Taher, head water resources official for the Red Sea state, told the Sudanese news site Al-Tagheer that he believed at least 60 people had died. The Sudanese news outlet Medameek, citing the country’s air force, reported more than 100 people missing, with many villagers seeking refuge on hilltops to escape rising waters.
The collapse of the Arbaat dam, which supplied drinking water to Port Sudan, comes at a critical time for the region. Port Sudan has become a refuge for many of Sudan’s top officials since the outbreak of a brutal conflict in April 2023 between the country’s military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group.
This latest disaster compounds Sudan’s already dire humanitarian situation:
– The ongoing conflict has killed thousands and pushed many into starvation, with famine confirmed in parts of the Darfur region.
– Sudan faces the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 10.7 million people forced from their homes since fighting began, according to the International Organization for Migration.
– A cholera outbreak, fueled by flooding and poor sanitation, has killed at least two dozen people. The World Health Organization reported more than 650 cases and 28 deaths across five states in the past month.
The WHO has initiated a cholera vaccination campaign in Kassala, eastern Sudan, reaching over 50,000 people, with plans to deliver an additional 450,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine.
Information about the dam collapse has been difficult to gather due to mobile network outages in the area. Local media reports suggest the dam burst Saturday night following heavy rains.
The incident highlights the fragility of Sudan’s infrastructure amid ongoing conflict and climate-related challenges. Sudan’s dams play a crucial role in managing seasonal floodwaters from the two upper branches of the Nile river that meet in the country.
As rescue efforts continue, the dam collapse serves as a stark reminder of the compounding crises facing Sudan and the urgent need for international humanitarian assistance.
AP
