LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –No fewer than 20 villages in eastern Sudan have been reported “destroyed,” with a total of 70 villages impacted, following the collapse of the Arba’at Dam, according to United Nations humanitarian officials.
This disaster has exacerbated the suffering of communities already ravaged by ongoing conflict between rival military factions.
The dam, located approximately 38 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Port Sudan, collapsed on Sunday,
August 25, damaging essential infrastructure including roads, electricity, and telecommunications.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that this damage has hindered efforts to fully assess the situation.
Authorities estimate that around 50,000 people residing on the western side of the dam have been severely affected, while assessments on the eastern banks are still underway.
Provincial and federal government teams are actively working to clear roads and conduct search and rescue operations.
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OCHA reported on Tuesday that “about 70 villages around Arba’at Dam have reportedly been affected by the flash flooding, of which 20 villages have been destroyed.”
At least 30 fatalities have been confirmed, although the actual death toll is feared to be higher.
Severe infrastructure damage has been documented, including the destruction of 84 borehole wells and the full or partial destruction of 70 schools. Additionally, over 10,000 livestock are reported missing.
The Arba’at Dam serves as the primary source of freshwater for Port Sudan, a crucial hub for international trade and humanitarian operations, particularly since the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
An inter-agency team led by OCHA has been deployed to the affected areas to coordinate support and facilitate a comprehensive assessment. “A helicopter is urgently required to assist with aerial assessments, as some areas are impassable by road due to flooding,” OCHA stated. The aircraft will also aid in search and rescue efforts, as some residents remain trapped in mountainous areas and others are stranded by floodwaters.
Since the onset of the rains in June, floods have devastated many regions of Sudan, particularly in North and West Darfur and the River Nile states. Prior to the dam collapse, over 310,000 people had already been affected by flooding, compounding the humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing violence.
The conflict has displaced more than 12 million people, both within Sudan and across its borders, devastating livelihoods and destroying crops, leading to severe food shortages and famine in several areas.
