00:06The sudden appearance of sand dunes in parts of the Nile River in Sudan is a strong indicator
00:12of the decline in water levels of this critical natural resource.
00:16Government data shows that in early July, water flow into Sudan dropped from 207 million
00:22to 129 million cubic meters per day in just three days, raising concerns over the cost
00:28and impact of this alarming development.
00:33For farmers on Tuti Island, the drop in volumes has left crops without enough water, which
00:38is now threatening their livelihoods.
00:43The Nile's water level started dropping in June.
00:47This drop has affected us farmers.
00:49We haven't been able to irrigate our crops because we can't even lower the water pumps
00:53due to the unstable clay soil, which could cause the pumps to sink.
01:00A substantial amount of Blue Nile waters passed through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
01:06There have been repeated requests by nations downstream to reach an amicable agreement that
01:11will regulate the filling, storage and operation of the dam, particularly during periods of drought.
01:18Since the dam began filling, the Nile's water levels have become unstable.
01:23Previously, the Nile would flood in August and we could irrigate our crops.
01:28But nowadays, it doesn't have a fixed schedule.
01:32Ethiopia maintains that its dam does not affect the flow of water to Egypt and Sudan.
01:38The Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources says the current decline in Nile
01:42waters is temporary, but acknowledges a change in the river's flow.
01:46The Nile event is, we call it climate variability, that happened with the cycle from two to five years,
01:56and that happened.
01:57So, through this cycle, we can witness the increase in Nile event,
02:04that means the sea service temperature above normal in the Pacific Ocean.
02:09And this year, specifically, 2026 and early 2027, is expected to be a strong and Nile event.
02:18So, in our side, in Sudan, we expect this drought this year,
02:23and the next year will be also affected with more drought in the rainy season.
02:28So, our sectors, that we have to lie on the other source of irrigation.
02:37The Sudanese Meteorological Authority has attributed the decline in Nile water levels
02:41to the El Niño weather phenomenon,
02:43which is expected to bring heavy rainfall in the Eastern African region in the coming months.
Comments