War hampers water harvesting projects – The Face of Truth – ✍️ Ibrahim Shaqlawi
Water harvesting projects in Sudan are known as small-scale dams, excavations and underground wells spread throughout the Sudanese states… with the aim of taking advantage of seasonal rains and groundwater reserves to provide water to rural residents during the extended summer periods… as water harvesting technology is one of the most effective ways to control seasonal water harvesting in valleys and streams… as its main objective is to reduce the suffering of the population in accessing water sources… in addition to contributing to the improvement of water quality. stability and economic and social development of the countryside by reducing poverty and developing human resources… and improving agricultural and livestock production in addition to preserving the environment.
This autumn is coming and none of the water harvesting projects in our country have been subjected to the annual maintenance that precedes the autumn and maintains its sustainability. This is due to various reasons, including the war that is spreading in a number of areas where these projects are located, in addition to the lack of local funding or funding from regional and international organizations that contribute every year to the financing of the establishment, maintenance and preservation of these projects with the aim of helping the local population maintain security and peace and reduce tensions related to conflicts over water and pastures.
This harsh reality foreshadows major disasters in the event of an increase in annual rainfall in this season… because these projects, represented by small dams and excavations, were designed with specific capacities to receive the seasonal autumn water flows through the valleys and streams… because they have remained subject to annual maintenance and cleaning of grass and trees. Which contributes to the appearance of some cracks in the walls of these dams… in addition to other erosion factors… part of which is the human use of the dams. of the soils surrounding these dams, which leads to bulldozing at different depths that can lead to the total or partial collapse of the walls of these works…
This is why periodic preventive maintenance of these projects is of great importance in order to preserve their structural structure… because this maintenance has been postponed for the second consecutive year due to the war and the lack of security and availability of funding. . as it preceded the fall to protect these dams and excavations.
To prepare it to receive seasonal rainwater… which forecasts indicate that this year could exceed the usual normal rates… due to climate change, because there is talk, according to weather forecasts, of the tropical line stabilizing towards the north. north of Wadi Halfa, which means that all of Sudan falls under the Al-Matari belt in the fall of this year.
As precipitation is expected to exceed all rates recorded in the records during the years 1946 and 1988. Torrential floods and meteorological hurricanes exceeding normal rates are also expected. It is important to consider this issue because it represents an important aspect of predictions that allow the decision maker to activate the necessary measures to avoid possible catastrophic consequences.
This leads us to draw the attention of the relevant authorities of the Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation and its agricultural units, the Dams and Groundwater Implementation Unit, Irrigation and Excavation Works, and the rest of the relevant units, to the importance of forming emergency work teams and intervening quickly in order to avoid any potential disaster due to filling these containers beyond their storage capacity or beyond seasonal rates, which could then become a threat to local residents in the event of catastrophic floods, especially those living in the areas surrounding or adjacent to these dams or excavations.
We also emphasize the importance of providing the necessary support promptly, preparing working mechanisms and allocating the necessary budgets to enable the competent authorities to fulfill their responsibilities. The Federal Ministry of Finance, state ministries and all regional and international organizations working in the field. the field must also monitor and provide sufficient funds to avoid a possible disaster resulting from the delay in these maintenances. The mission and obligation… which must start now before tomorrow, and also start before the necessary preventive measures on the part of the human framework. the material and humanitarian catastrophe occurs.
May you always be well..
