Ethiopia's GERD Flooding Submerges Sudan Village, Displacing Residents
Ethiopia has started releasing water from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir, with the flow peaking at 750 million cubic meters per day. This has led to severe flooding in Sudan, particularly in the village of Wad Ramli, where homes and farmland have been submerged. The Nile River's alarming rise this year is attributed to heavy rainfall in the Ethiopian Highlands, weakened embankments, and climate change.
The flooding in Wad Ramli has caused significant damage, destroying buildings, livestock, and crops. Residents have been displaced and are now living in the open. This is not an isolated incident; flooding is an annual threat in Sudan, with heavy rainfall causing destruction and deaths in recent years. Experts recommend rebuilding embankments with modern engineering and early warning systems to mitigate future flooding in low-lying areas like Wad Ramli.
The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the local government of Wad Ramli, and the Egyptian Red Crescent are working together to provide relief and prevent future damage. Their efforts include dam reconstruction, strengthening embankments, and planning early warning systems. However, the root cause of the flooding, the GERD, remains a contentious issue. Egypt and Sudan have been in negotiations with Ethiopia over the dam for 13 years, with talks failing in December 2023.
The flooding in Wad Ramli has had devastating consequences, highlighting the urgent need for improved flood management strategies. While the immediate focus is on relief and recovery, the long-term solution involves addressing the underlying causes of the flooding, including climate change and the impact of the GERD. The ongoing negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia are crucial in finding a sustainable solution to this recurring problem.
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