Food & Climate
The floods are exacerbating the worsening Sudan’s food insecurity, as they compound the difficulties in accessing markets, already devastated by the conflict between the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for two years, according to Dr. AbdulHakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In exclusive statements to “Food & Climate” Platform, Elwaer pointed out that the cause of the floods, or their connection to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, cannot be determined.
However, Elwaer explained that the floods did not arrive at their usual time this year and were “too late,” according to him. Other details are revealed in the following interview:
What is the state of Sudan’s food insecurity after the recent floods?
The situation in Sudan since the beginning of the war two years ago has been very bad, which prompts me to repeat a phrase that goes something like this: “If Gaza is the most severe crisis in the world, then Sudan’s crisis is the largest.”
Half of Sudan’s 50 million population is threatened by various degrees of acute hunger and food insecurity, falling into IPC categories 3, 4, and 5.
But after the liberation of Khartoum, it is said that there is some stability?
The security situation is relatively stable, especially in the western region of Kordofan and Darfur, but problems related to drought and floods, population instability in agricultural areas, and the inability to access agricultural areas due to conflict are causing worsening Sudan’s food insecurity.
FAO has made significant efforts to provide seeds to farmers. In the first year, we distributed seeds to 1.2 million farmers, contributing to the livelihoods of more than 6 million people, producing food for more than 10 million people.
But wars prevent access to farmers?
This is what happened in the second year, as we were unable to reach entire areas such as Darfur and Kordofan due to floods that made it impossible for vehicles to transport seeds, in addition to the ongoing conflict.
The floods also caused the death of a large number of livestock and destroyed much agricultural land, along with crops.
How much land was destroyed by the floods?
We are currently studying the situation. The floods are continuing, even if the water source has been cut off. However, it will take some time for the land to recede, allowing it to be replanted, and for livestock to be restored.
Over the past two years, we have carried out a major livestock vaccination campaign across Sudan, “which has been very important in limiting diseases affecting livestock.”
The campaign has also worked to provide animal feed in Sudan, but distribution problems remain within Sudan due to the complete destruction of markets as a result of the war. There are currently no safe shopping centers within cities for distributing agricultural products.
For example, Khartoum was completely destroyed, so there are no markets there, and goods are also not available in sufficient quantities. These markets used to receive goods via safe routes from rural production areas to cities, but this movement has become almost non-existent due to the war or the floods.
Are these floods due to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, as is being rumored?
I can’t be certain, but there is certainly an increase in the water level of the Nile River.
The timing of floods is known, and if these floods occur, they will be very late this year, as they begin in June and continue until mid-September of each year.
However, these floods in 2025 occurred in October and coincided with the opening of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Floods are never caused by excessive rainfall in Sudan. “What I mean is that they occur when the Nile River water level increases. This requires a study to determine the main causes of these floods, and there is coordination among countries to do so.”
Does FAO play a role in these studies?
No. However, we are studying the effects of floods on livestock and agriculture and the extent of the damage to people in the affected areas, but at the local level of each country.
We are currently conducting a flood assessment in Sudan, in addition to working on intervention projects to help those affected by the floods.
Due to last year’s floods, the Arbaat Dam collapsed, exacerbating the food insecurity crisis in Sudan. What is your role in addressing this?
Dams fall within the infrastructure sector, which is outside the scope of the organization’s work, as they require funding through African institutions such as the African Development Bank or the World Bank.
We do not interfere in this. Our role is limited to studies that assess the effects of a dam collapse, after which the country itself approaches the financing institutions.
But you conducted that study last year?
Yes, and when new damage occurs, we update the studies. Countries rely on these studies when requesting funding for such projects from financing institutions.
FAO not only studied the collapsed Arbaat Dam, but also worked with other dams in Sudan, participating in the restoration of some dams built using traditional methods using “earthen mounds.”
These dams are located in the Red Sea State, where they are very primitive and, with rising rainfall, are vulnerable to collapse, destroying entire villages.
Therefore, we intervened last year with the help of donors and restored two to three dams.