The Nile River State: Warnings of an Uncontrollable Environmental Disaster
Report - Moatinoon
The Nile River State has experienced heavy rains and a massive wave of floods covering large parts of the localities this week. This wave has led to the collapse of 70% of the houses in Abu Hamed locality, according to government data. In addition to the damage to citizens homes and local markets, the widespread mining markets across the state have also been affected, warning of a looming health and environmental disaster that could extend its effects to other areas.
Several experts and workers in the mining field have warned about the severity of the health and environmental situation due to floods sweeping through mining sites, mills, and mining markets. Most of the floods flow into the Nile River from both the eastern and western sides. The danger increases if the floodwaters carry radioactive materials mixed with waste, such as uranium and plutonium, or heavy metals extracted from gold mining waste from mining areas.
Nile River State houses the four largest gold markets: Al-Abidiya, Abu Hamed, Al-Sharikh, and Dar Mali. These markets receive raw materials from mining areas in the Red Sea State and Northern State, including the Al-Alaqi, Al-Ansari, and Moraya regions, where they are chemically treated.
The Sudanese Doctors Network warned of an environmental and humanitarian disaster due to the floods and rains that hit some mining areas in the Nile River State. The network indicated that the floods carried away waste from artisanal gold mining, including some deadly chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, used in excavation processes.
The network confirmed that these chemicals have harmful effects on the respiratory and digestive systems, warning that the floods would lead to an increase in scorpion stings, especially since the area is home to large quantities of poisonous scorpions.
Toxic Materials:
Geological expert Dr. Farah Saleh told "Mowatinoun" (Citizens) that one of the biggest problems currently facing Sudan is unregulated mining. He warned that all the waste contains highly toxic chemicals that remain in the waste for long periods with varying concentrations from one area to another. He added, "Some rocks and soil also contain heavy metals that cause problems and diseases for humans and animals if they accumulate in large quantities."
Saleh explained that the floods and rains swept away contaminated waste such as cyanide, mercury, and thiourea (a diluted form of cyanide). He said that cyanide is a highly toxic chemical that causes death by stopping the heart, and mercury is much more dangerous because it does not decompose and is used in large quantities, often getting lost in the soil. The geological expert also warned about the presence of "karta" (gold extraction residue), which unfortunately, is found near homes, schools, irrigation channels, farms, and near the Nile in villages north of Atbara. "Karta is treated with mercury and thiourea," he added.
In his statement, Mamoun Abshir, a leader in the Demands Bodies Alliance "TAM"- Nile River, confirmed the unfortunate news of an environmental pollution disaster caused by the floods carrying away large amounts of cyanide and mercury materials, as well as thousands of metric tons of mining waste known locally as "karta," and dozens of tools and equipment used in gold refining operations in laboratories attached to the mining markets in the Nile River State. These materials were also scattered in farms, homes, and local markets despite continuous warnings and appeals.
In a report for the "TAM" page, Abshir said: "We have been resisting the chaos of mining, repeatedly warning of the consequences of not regulating excessive mining activities. We have criticized the lack of sensitivity and responsibility towards the communities hosting mining activities. We protested, staged sit-ins, raised our complaints, and sought to draw the attention of all responsible parties. We even presented practical proposals to avert the danger before it occurred, but no one listened to the repeated calls."
He added, "Now, the areas of Al-Abidiya, East Atbara, Abu Hamed, Shendi, and the entire southern region of the state and its eastern outskirts are threatened by the danger of environmental pollution, which has become a stark reality alongside the other dangers of floods and rains."
According to the media office of the Nile River State Police, the floods and rains in the state swept away the asphalt layer in parts of the main roads, disrupting traffic.
The office stated on its Facebook page that the floods caused the blockage of the Challenge Road near the Kabati area south of Al-Dammer city, and the Atbara-Meroe Road at kilometer 131, as well as the Atbara-Abu Hamed Road.
Radioactive Materials:
Saleh warned in his statement to "Mowatinoun" that the coming danger is the potential mixing of floodwaters with mining waste, particularly in the Red Sea, Nile River, and Northern States, which will lead to uncontrollable health and environmental disasters. He pointed out that the danger increases if floodwaters carry radioactive materials mixed with waste, such as uranium, plutonium, or other radioactive substances or heavy metals extracted from gold mining waste from mining sites.
In a statement to "TAM," engineer Ali Tonga Ali, head of the Environmental Protection Committee and a member of the executive secretariat of the Demands Bodies Alliance - TAM, highlighted the seriousness of the effects of the floods and rains in mining areas, which contain laboratories for gold extraction using highly dangerous chemicals.
Tonga also noted that the heavy rains led to soil erosion in many locations in the Nile River and Red Sea States, exposing uncovered chemicals to spread. He said this would have harmful effects on local communities, exposing residents to severe health risks and damages, including the contraction of agricultural lands due to soil erosion and pollution, the impact on vegetation and livestock, and threats to food security in many parts of Sudan, especially in light of the war and the significant halt in agricultural and livestock production. In addition, it will affect the climate, wildlife, and aquatic life, disrupting the ecological balance.
Government Weakness:
The Nile River State acknowledged the magnitude of the disaster, stating that it is beyond the states capabilities, requiring intervention from other relevant entities with the capacity to mitigate the immediate effects of the disaster and contain its consequences.
Geological expert Dr. Farah told "Mowatinoun" that there is a lack of government commitment to international standards for the safe use of cyanide, mercury, and other chemicals in mining areas. He explained that Sudan does not enforce laws for several reasons, including the weakness of the central government, conflicting interests in the states, and the dominance of tribes (chiefs and elders) in land ownership and the influence of certain individuals in decision-making regarding investment in mining.
Mamoun, a member of the Demands Bodies Alliance, confirmed that the disasters magnitude and impact exceed the capabilities of the state and its citizens, as well as those it hosts from other states due to the war. He added, "The frightening thing is that there have been reports of livestock and birds dying after drinking contaminated water, which warns of similar consequences for humans as well."
