Heavy rains caused the Arbaat Dam in Sudan's eastern Red Sea state to collapse, flooding nearby homes and killing at least 30 people. The collapse also affected about 70 villages, including 20 that were destroyed.
Heavy rains caused the Arbaat Dam in Sudan's eastern Red Sea state to collapse on Sunday, flooding nearby homes and killing at least 30 people. The collapse also affected about 70 villages around the dam, including 20 villages that were destroyed, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The dam, located about 38 kilometers (nearly 25 miles) northwest of Port Sudan, sustained massive damage due to the heavy rains. In areas west of the dam, the flooding destroyed or damaged the homes of 50,000 people — 77% of the total population living there.
Arbaat Dam Collapse in Sudan Kills at Least 30, Damages Thousands of Homes
OCHA warned that those affected urgently need food, water, and shelter, adding that the damage in eastern parts of the dam is still being assessed. More than 80 boreholes collapsed due to the flooding, while 10,000 heads of livestock are missing, and 70 schools have been either damaged or destroyed.
The collapse of the dam has exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which is already grappling with one of the world's biggest displacement crises due to the ongoing war in the country. Heavy rain and flooding across Sudan this month have impacted more than 317,000 people, with 118,000 people being displaced.
Arbaat Dam Collapse in Sudan Kills at Least 30, Damages Thousands of Homes
Tuesday marks 500 days since Sudan plunged into war after fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict, which began in the capital, Khartoum, has raged across Sudan, killing thousands of people, destroying civilian infrastructure, and pushing many to the brink of famine. More than 10 million people have been forcibly displaced to find safety, according to the U.N.
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement Tuesday that "this is a shameful moment" for international humanitarian organizations, which for more than 16 months, "have failed to provide an adequate response to the country’s escalating medical needs — from catastrophic child malnutrition to widespread disease outbreaks."
"At the same time, heavy restrictions from both warring parties have drastically limited the ability to deliver humanitarian aid," MSF said.
Abdirahman Ali, CARE's Sudan country director, warned in a statement Tuesday that the war "shattered" the health care system, "leaving countless without care." More than 75% of health care systems have been destroyed since the war began, according to a World Health Organization estimate in July.
The collapse of the Arbaat Dam has further worsened the already dire living conditions for people in Sudan. The U.N. is urging international organizations to provide urgent assistance to those affected by the dam collapse and the ongoing conflict in the country.
