PORT SUDAN: War, climate change, and man-made shortages have plunged Sudan into a severe water crisis, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the nation. With temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), the people of Sudan, particularly in conflict zones like North Darfur, are struggling to secure basic necessities such as water.
Issa, a father of seven from North Darfur, described the daily ordeal his children endure, walking 14 kilometers (nine miles) to fetch water for the family. They are among the 65,000 residents of the Sortoni displacement camp, suffering from the consequences of the prolonged conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
When fighting broke out more than a year ago, most foreign aid groups, including those operating Sortoni’s water stations, ceased operations, leaving residents to fend for themselves. Despite the presence of several water sources, including the Nile River, water scarcity is a longstanding issue in Sudan. Prior to the war, a quarter of the population already faced long treks to access water, according to the United Nations.
The crisis has now spread across the country, affecting 48 million war-weary Sudanese. The US ambassador to the United Nations recently described Sudan as facing “the largest humanitarian crisis on the face of the planet.” In North Darfur’s capital, El-Fasher, where RSF forces have besieged the city, water access for over 800,000 civilians is under threat. The UN children’s agency UNICEF has warned that fighting over the Golo water reservoir could cut off safe water for about 270,000 people.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that fighting in El-Fasher had killed at least 226 people, further complicating efforts to secure water supplies. The UN Security Council has demanded an end to the siege of El-Fasher.
In the nearby village of Shaqra, where 40,000 people have sought shelter, long lines for water are common. Photos from the area show women and children waiting under the scorching sun for their turn to collect water. The situation is equally dire in the capital Khartoum, where the Soba water station has been out of service since the war began. Residents have resorted to buying untreated water from animal-drawn carts, increasing the risk of disease.
Port Sudan, the capital on the Red Sea, faces a “huge water issue” that is expected to worsen in the summer months. The city relies on a single inadequate reservoir for its water supply, and residents use horse- and donkey-drawn carts to deliver water, often without proper sanitation measures.
The health impacts of the water crisis are severe. Between April 2023 and March 2024, nearly 11,000 cholera cases were reported, a significant increase from previous years. With most hospitals shut down and a potential famine looming, the situation in Sudan is dire.
“Health care has collapsed, people are drinking dirty water, they are hungry and will get hungrier, which will kill many, many more,” a European diplomat with experience in Sudan’s water sector said.
