Northern Sudan: ‘More than 60,000 palm trees lost in three years’

In recent years, many palm tree plantations in Sudan’s Northern State burned to the ground. Though activists suspect arson, officials point to the importance of cleaning the trees.

According to government statistics, between 60,000 and 70,000 palm trees burned to the ground in the Northern State within the past three years.

The palm growers should have cleaned the trees [of dead, dying or broken fronds], Brig. Ahmed Abuzeid, Commissioner of Dongola locality, said in a press conference on Thursday.  He pointed to the decrease in fires in areas where farmers cleaned their palm trees.

Nubian activist Ashraf Abdelwedoud said that in recent years, about 200 fires broke out at palm plantations in the region. “The most recent fire was in the area of Korma at Sai Island last week. The farmers there cleaned all their palm trees one month ago.”

He blamed the authorities for the repeated fires at the palm plantations. “They failed to provide the necessary protection to the palm farms. The fire brigades, if they exist, lack the most basic equipment, and the fires are not investigated.”

Arson

The population of the Northern State is largely dependent on palm dates for their income. Yet, according to statistics from the Nubian Development Committee, about 250,000 palms were destroyed by fire between 2005 and 2016.

Local activists suspect arson and link the incidents to the resistance by the Nubians living in the region against the Dal, Kajbar, and El Shereik hydro dams planned to be constructed in the area.

They say that the government intends to eliminate the palm tree plantations to ensure a low compensation for the palm owners who will loose their land because of the dams.

In June, more than 1,500 palm trees and at least six water engines were destroyed in an extensive fire that broke out at Koka near Dongola, capital of Northern State. In May, flames consumed about 500 trees in Artemi Island in Dolgo. In April, a major fire in the palm-rich Sai Island, north of Abri, destroyed hundreds of palms.