Omdurman, Sudan Encounters Severe Drinking Water Shortage After RSF Attack on Merowe Dam

Synopsis

Omdurman city in Sudan is enduring a severe drinking water crisis following an attack by the Rapid Support Forces on the Merowe Dam, disrupting electricity and water supply. Authorities are working to restore service amid increasing demand and population pressure.

Key Takeaways

Omdurman is experiencing a significant drinking water crisis.
The crisis is a result of an RSF attack on the Merowe Dam.
Electricity outages have halted water supply operations.
Local authorities are implementing emergency measures.
Omdurman's population has surged due to safety concerns.

Khartoum, Jan 19 (NationPress) The city of Omdurman, located just north of Sudan's capital Khartoum, is currently grappling with a critical drinking water crisis that has persisted for five days. This situation has arisen following an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Merowe Dam in Northern State, as reported by local officials.

According to a statement from the Khartoum State government, the complete loss of electricity supply has led to the water crisis, as the Nile stations and wells have ceased operations.

The RSF drone strike on the Merowe Dam, a significant hydroelectric facility on the Nile River, is blamed for the power outage and subsequent water shortage.

“We are striving to find urgent solutions to mitigate the drinking water crisis,” the statement further mentioned.

The Merowe Dam, situated approximately 350 km north of Khartoum, ranks among the largest hydropower projects in Africa.

Ahmed Osman Hamza, the Governor of Khartoum State, has been actively inspecting wells in the western regions, specifically in the Al-Thawra neighborhood, to ensure the operation of wells powered by generators, according to the state's media office.

He has directed local authorities to provide residents with water from the reserves at the Al-Manara water station.

In the meantime, the Khartoum State Water Corporation has reported that its engineers are implementing urgent measures to activate water wells and restore supply to the national network.

They disclosed that 15 wells across various neighborhoods have been activated, significantly aiding in the provision of water to certain areas.

Omdurman, recognized as Sudan's second most populous city, has witnessed a population increase after becoming one of the safer regions in the state, attracting thousands of displaced individuals. Amid the severe water scarcity, residents are forced to endure long lines to access water from aging wells or water trucks.

Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a catastrophic conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, resulting in at least 29,683 fatalities and displacing nearly 15 million people, either within Sudan or seeking refuge abroad, according to the latest assessments from international agencies.