Latest news with #Nile
Al Jazeera
14 hours ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
‘Corpses rotting in the Nile' as cholera tears through Sudan
After Sudan's army recaptured the national capital region of Khartoum in March, tens of thousands of people returned to check on their homes and reunite with loved ones. The joy of returning was tempered by the shock of seeing the damage caused during nearly two years under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), recognised by many Sudanese and the UN as the de facto authority in Sudan, since April 2023. In a region whose hospitals and food and medicine stores had been systematically plundered by the RSF, many returnees started falling sick. Many of the returnees had settled in Omdurman, one of the national capital's three cities, where living conditions were slightly better than in the other cities. This is because several localities in Omdurman never came under the RSF's control, insulating it from heavy clashes, pillaging, and looting. Omdurman quickly became overcrowded, with 'thousands of people [returning] from Egypt alone', according to Dr Dirar Abeer, a member of Khartoum's Emergency Response Rooms, neighbourhood committees spearheading relief efforts across the country. The crowding, Dr Abeer said, meant an accelerated spread of cholera, an acute, highly contagious diarrhoeal infection that is endemic to Sudan and can be fatal if not treated. 'In areas south of the Nile in Omdurman, there are a lot of corpses rotting next to [or in] the Nile, and this has [partially] caused the spread of infection,' said Badawi, a volunteer in Omdurman who declined to give his full name due to the sensitivity of speaking in a warzone. Cholera has become an epidemic in Sudan, spreading in several states, including White Nile and Gadarif, and killing hundreds in the last two weeks. As in Khartoum, the spread was fuelled by overcrowding and a lack of essential services in these regions. The waterborne disease could be stopped with basic sanitation and provisions, said Fazli Kostan, the project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF. 'But that's not really possible right now,' he told Al Jazeera, referring to a lack of electricity to pump water since Omdurman's electricity grids went down on May 14. The RSF had fired a barrage of suicide drones that day, which took out major power stations and grids, consequently shutting down water treatment plants and causing a sharp rise in cases. Deprived of safe drinking and bathing water, people have resorted to drinking contaminated water from the Nile, as well as scooping up water from the ground after it rains, Badawi said. The SAF-backed Ministry of Health (MoH) reported a huge surge in daily cholera cases in the national capital region between May 15 and May 25, with at least 172 people dying between May 20 and May 27. The UN says daily cases spiked from 90 to more than 815 in the latter half of May. Those who contract the disease often rush to the nearest hospital, further straining an already overwhelmed and ill-equipped health sector. However, local volunteers said many people do not experience life-threatening symptoms and that they would be better off staying at home and isolating themselves. The overcrowding at hospitals has further exacerbated the spread of the disease and overstrained the already collapsing health sector, they explained. 'We do not have enough medication or medical tools, and the rate of people coming to the hospitals is far more than we can handle,' said Kareem al-Noor, a medic at al-Nao hospital in Omdurman. 'The [remaining hospitals] are at full capacity and people are also waiting for treatment, crowded on the streets,' al-Noor added. Dr Abeer feels the SAF-backed health authorities are not doing enough to tackle the epidemic. While she acknowledged that the health sector was largely destroyed by the RSF, she believes the current health authorities could be doing more. Al Jazeera submitted written questions to Dr Montasser Towarra, the MoH spokesperson, asking him what measures the ministry is undertaking to help volunteers and to provide basic provisions. He had not answered by the time of publication. Sudan is also suffering an acute hunger crisis. Since the civil war, millions of Sudanese have struggled to feed their families due to spoiled harvests, the systematic looting of markets and food aid and the destruction of homes and livelihoods. According to the UN, about 25 million people – more than half the population – currently suffer extreme food shortages. Hunger can weaken bodies and lead to an acute increase in contagious diseases, according to Alex De Waal, an expert on Sudan and famine. He noted that civilians – especially children – have always been more likely to die from diseases if they are also on the brink of starvation. 'We could see an excess of hundreds of thousands of deaths [due to these factors] over the next year,' warned De Waal. The UN has also warned that up to one million children could die from cholera unless the spread is thwarted quickly. The only way to thwart the health crisis is to repair basic provisions such as electricity and sewage systems to improve sanitation, said De Waal. However, he believes that repairing essential services is not a priority for the army, which remains the de facto authority. Al Jazeera sent written questions to SAF spokesperson, Nabil Abdullah, to ask if the army is planning on repairing vital resources such as bombed electricity grids. Abdullah said, 'These questions are not for the army, but for the Ministry of Health.' Tawarra from the MoH also did not respond to these questions. De Waal suspects the army is prioritising combat operations against the RSF. 'My sense is the army is too stretched financially and organisationally to prioritise anything other than fighting the war,' he told Al Jazeera.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's agricultural exports surpass 4.8mln tons in 5 months
Arab Finance: Egypt's agricultural exports rose significantly from the beginning of this year until the end of May, exceeding 4.8 million tons, up from 4.3 million tons in the same period last year, as per a statement. Citrus fruits, potatoes, onions, guava, beans, sweet potatoes, grapes, and strawberries were the most exported during the five-month period. However, citrus fruits topped the list of exports with over 1.8 million tons, followed by fresh potatoes at nearly 1.1 million tons. Beans, including both fresh and dry varieties, ranked third with exports totaling 130,000 tons. Onion came in fourth place with 106,000 tons exported, while sweet potatoes followed closely, ranking fifth with 101,000 tons. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt launches vocational irrigation schools, scales up Nile hyacinth recycling initiative
Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is advancing two ambitious initiatives designed to modernize water infrastructure and promote sustainable development: the launch of vocational schools specializing in irrigation technology and the expansion of a programme that recycles invasive Nile hyacinth into marketable products. Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam chaired a meeting this week with senior officials, including Salwa Aboulala, head of the Regional Training Center for Water Resources, to assess progress on both fronts. The session focused on plans to establish a new generation of technical schools that combine academic coursework with hands-on training in areas such as modern irrigation systems, drainage, AI applications, land surveying, and pump maintenance. 'These schools will help build a highly skilled workforce capable of managing Egypt's water systems with cutting-edge technology,' Sewilam said, adding that the initiative supports the national 'Irrigation 2.0' strategy for water sector modernization. The meeting also reviewed progress in the Ministry's Nile hyacinth recycling programme, which aims to transform the fast-growing aquatic plant—long regarded as an environmental nuisance—into an economic resource. Since its inception, the initiative has held 16 training workshops across four governorates, reaching nearly 400 participants, many of them women, who have learned to produce handicrafts from harvested hyacinth. The recycling programme is part of the broader 'Sustainable Development from the Heart of the Nile' initiative, which seeks to empower women and youth through environmentally friendly microenterprises. In addition to technical training, participants receive support in marketing their products via social media and trade fairs. A permanent workshop has also been established at the training center to facilitate continuous production and skill-building. Looking ahead, the ministry is exploring the commercial potential of converting dried hyacinth into biofuel, charcoal, and particleboard—creating new job and investment opportunities while reducing waste and ecological impact. Sewilam emphasized the importance of partnering with international donors and private investors to expand the project's reach. He also called for closer collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower to connect programme graduates with green job opportunities and to develop domestic and export markets for hyacinth-based goods. 'These efforts not only address environmental challenges but also support the green economy, foster social inclusion, and enhance climate resilience,' he said.
Economic Times
27-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
World's oldest crocodile is said to be 124 years old, with over 10,000 babies. Here's all about Henry, the man-eater
Henry, a Nile crocodile residing at South Africa's Crocworld Conservation Centre, has reached an astounding 124 years old, potentially making him the world's oldest living crocodile. Henry is said to be the oldest crocodile Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Henry, a colossal Nile crocodile at South Africa's Crocworld Conservation Centre, has achieved a remarkable milestone by reaching 124 years of age. This extraordinary reptile, potentially the oldest living crocodile globally, has garnered significant interest from both the public and scientific his precise date of birth remains unknown, Henry's birthday celebrations occur annually on December 16. His life began in Botswana's Okavango Delta circa 1900, evolving into a remarkable tale of Crocworld Conservation Centre, where he has resided since 1985, Henry recently commemorated his 124th year. Live Science reports that his birth around 1900 establishes him as one of history's longest-living documented crocodiles."He's clearly old," said Steven Austad, a biologist at the University of Alabama who studies animal ageing, in a statement to Live Science. "Whether he's 100 or 130, we don't know. An age of 124 is not inconceivable for a crocodile," he early life in the Okavango Delta was notable, as he developed a formidable presence. Local folklore suggests he caused considerable distress to a riverside tribe, with reports of attacks on community Henry, an elephant hunter, subsequently captured the large reptile, leading to tribal authorities imposing lifelong 700 kilograms and 16.4 feet in length, Henry has produced over 10,000 offspring. Scientists attribute his longevity to the protective environment and care at Crocworld."Animals that, for whatever reason, happen to live in a safe environment tend to live longer," Austad research suggests that Nile crocodiles possess blood with antibacterial proteins, potentially preventing infections. Their robust gut microbiome might also enhance their immune capabilities."(Crocodiles) live longer than the careers of the scientists studying them," Austad joked, reflecting the enduring nature of these prehistoric prehistoric creatures inhabit 26 Sub-Saharan African nations and are associated with numerous human casualties annually.
CNN
26-05-2025
- Science
- CNN
Scientists use scent to discover new insights into mummies
Scientists have found that ancient Egyptian mummified bodies emit different types of aromas, offering new insights into the mummification process.
