Water Crisis in Omdurman Worsens Following Attack on Sudan’s Merowe Dam
Omdurman, a city north of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has been struggling with a severe drinking water crisis for almost a week. Local authorities attribute the shortage to a drone attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Merowe Dam, one of Africa’s largest hydropower projects. The attack disrupted electricity, rendering Nile water stations and wells inoperable, according to a statement Saturday from the Khartoum State government.
Efforts are underway to alleviate the crisis. Gov. Ahmed Osman Hamza has inspected wells in the Al-Thawra neighborhood, where generators are being used to restore water flow. The Khartoum State Water Corporation reported that 15 wells have been reactivated in several neighborhoods, improving access to water for some residents. The governor also directed authorities to utilize reserves from Al-Manara water station to address the shortfall.
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Omdurman, Sudan’s second-largest city, has seen a surge in population due to its relative safety, with thousands of displaced people seeking refuge there. The increased demand has exacerbated the impact of the water shortage, forcing residents to queue for hours at old wells or water trucks.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, with fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF causing widespread destruction. The war has claimed nearly 30,000 lives and displaced approximately 15 million people.
The Merowe Dam, located 350 kilometers north of Khartoum, is a vital source of hydroelectric power for the region, and its incapacitation has intensified humanitarian challenges in an already dire situation.
