Sudan: Water shortages in Khartoum, cooking gas scarce in Atbara

People in large parts of the Sudanese capital are suffering from a severe lack of drinking water. Atbara in northern Sudan is witnessing a major cooking gas crisis.

The shortage of water is felt most in the Khartoum districts of El Mygoma, El Kalakla, and El Azhari, and El Salha and the densely populated Ombadda districts in Omdurman.

The Khartoum Water Authority attributed the crisis in general to the high temperatures and increased water consumption during Ramadan.

The scarcity of drinking water in El Mygoma in Khartoum and El Salha in Omdurman is caused by fluctuation of the electrical current, while the water shortage in the large district of El Kalakla is due to non-operation of the well in the neighbourhood.

The director of the Khartoum Water Authority announced that they will daily send a number of water tankers daily to the affected areas.

Cooking gas

Activist Badreldin Hussein told Radio Dabanga from Atbara in northern Sudan that the town’s population has “great difficulties in obtaining cooking gas, so much needed during the month of Ramadan.

“A cylinder of cooking gas is sold at SDG 900 on the black market,” he complained. “It is sold by licensed agents at a price of SDG 230 if it is available. The alternative, charcoal, costs SDG 60 per day for an average family. Yet, most people do not earn enough to afford this.”

Hussein added that the very few available quantities of cooking gas are distributed alternately among the various districts of the town.

Radio Dabanga’s editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.