Al-Manara Station: Lack of strategic planning?! – The face of truth – ✍️ Ibrahim Shaqlawi

The Al-Manara water plant in Khartoum is one of the main pillars of water supply security in the localities of Karari, Omdurman and Um Badda. Since its construction in 2010 at a cost of $106 million, half of which was a Dutch grant, the station has represented a significant step forward in improving service infrastructure. But with the outbreak of the ongoing war, the fragility of the management of this vital installation was revealed, which lacks strategic planning to ensure the continuity of its work in the face of crises. Instead of being an example of success, it has become a symbol of unpreparedness for the urgent challenges that threaten the continuity of services.

The station is now going through a major crisis which has led to the complete shutdown of the main pumping, causing numerous repercussions. In this article we try to read the current reality, as the Al-Manara station suffers from frequent water supply interruptions due to its total dependence on the traditional electricity grid, which makes it vulnerable to a complete shutdown in case of malfunction of this network. network. It appears the station was not equipped with any energy alternatives, such as high-efficiency backup generators or solar power systems.

The crisis was significantly exacerbated when Rapid Support Militia targeted the Merowe Dam power plant, causing a widespread power outage that halted the operation of the plant. This outage pushed residents of the localities of Karari, Omdurman and Um Baddah to resort to purchasing bottled water at exorbitant prices, in addition to its unavailability in certain areas. The streets were filled with lines of citizens seeking water from a philanthropist who owned a tanker truck or a volunteer who had brought a disguise to help the population.

In addition, the locality of Karari suffers from a significant increase in its population following displacement. After the army restored security to large areas of the capital, the localities of Umm Badda and Omdurman saw a massive return of citizens, increasing pressure on limited military resources, without accompany preparation or the emergence of emergency teams to deal with possible crises. . As water supply interruptions continued, many daily activities were disrupted, including the closure of schools and disruption of economic activities, and a number of bakeries stopped operating, although they were supposed to provide electrical generators.

These problems clearly demonstrate the lack of strategic planning during wartime, which significantly affected the lives of citizens and worsened their suffering. The crisis has been renewed today in all its details, regardless of what happened in the middle of last year, since the plant stopped temporarily due to the lack of purification equipment, which would have could have been prepared earlier. However, it seems that the establishment suffers from an administrative weakness which requires a review and identification of responsibilities. Today, when the crisis returns without any lessons, it is truly confusing.

Therefore, urgent requests remain the need to provide two electrical generators: one in service and the other in reserve to ensure the continuity of the operation of the station in emergency situations, or to introduce a system of solar energy as an alternative and sustainable energy to reduce dependence on traditional electricity. Furthermore, it is important to develop clear operational contingency plans that ensure the continuity of vital services even in exceptional circumstances, and to improve civil-military coordination to strengthen integration between agencies to ensure better crisis management.

The continuation of this crisis without radical solutions constitutes a direct threat to the lives of citizens in the localities of Umm Badda and Karari, which have become the alternative capital in the current circumstances. It is clear that the “Plan B” that the Rapid Support Militia is talking about involves targeting infrastructure and using it as an arena of conflict to pressure the military and government into negotiations. Therefore, targeting vital facilities such as electricity and water reflects a systematic use of war to disrupt the daily lives of citizens.

As we know, the Rapid Support Militia relies on strategies of infrastructure destruction to weaken public confidence in the state's ability to manage crises. Targeting installations in this way represents a qualitative shift in methods of warfare, as drones are used to intensify pressure on civilians, thereby endangering the continuity of basic services.

Crisis management in wartime requires strengthening effective cooperation between the civil and military sectors to ensure the provision of basic services in wartime.

Final message

According to what we see in the truth of the governor of Khartoum, Ahmed Othman Hamza, the cessation of water pumping at the Al-Manara station represents a major challenge which puts the citizen in direct confrontation with the humanitarian crises. Securing water is a fundamental right, just like guaranteeing the operation of bakeries, and it must not be affected by war. Facing this crisis begins by proposing real and sustainable alternatives. Accountability now requires bold decisions that respond to the needs of citizens and restore confidence in the state's ability to protect its most fundamental rights in current circumstances.

Your efforts since the start of the war are appreciated and you are bringing order these days by reshuffling the cabinet and shortening the administrative shadow. The effectiveness of active agencies and executives must be reviewed, and the challenge and responsibility of all state personnel must be met. Managing crises in wartime is different from managing them in peacetime. Don't let the enemy miss an opportunity, even if it means disrupting an action or poor execution.

The next phase also requires the adoption of radical strategies focused on maintaining services, protecting citizens' rights, strengthening institutional coordination between government and military agencies, and developing proactive plans that enable the state to restore security and achieve peace.

May you always be well.





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