Vulnerability of Khartoum Vulnerability of Khartoum city to climate change city to climate change

By: Dr. Sumaya Ahmed ZakieldeenBy: Dr. Sumaya Ahmed ZakieldeenCLACC Fellow, SudanCLACC Fellow, Sudan

University of Khartoum, Institute of Environmental University of Khartoum, Institute of Environmental StudiesStudies

zakields@yahoo.comzakields@yahoo.com

KhartoumKhartoum

• Khartoum, is the capital and major trading, financial and political centre of Sudan.

• It is located on the western bank of the Blue Nile and forms a huge triangle, with its vertex at the confluence of the two Niles and the base bordering Gezira State about 30km south-eastward

• The climate is mainly tropical • The city was founded in 1823 • From 1899 to 1956 Khartoum was capital of the Anglo-

Egyptian Sudan and remained capital when Sudan became independent

• Khartoum, together with the two other cities, Khartoum North and Omdurman forms what is called the Tripartite Capital.

Key statistics for KhartoumKey statistics for Khartoum

Indicator Statistics

Annual growth rate 4%Number of shanty towns surrounding metropolitan Khartoum 96

Estimated population of unauthorized settlements 2-3 million

% of central Khartoum covered by water network 71%

% of Khartoum connected to sewage system 28%

% of Khartoum using pit latrines or basic systems 68%

Khartoum State and Khartoum city Khartoum State and Khartoum city

Agriculture in KhartoumAgriculture in Khartoum

Urban Development vs natural Urban Development vs natural resources resources

• The three cities of Khartoum (Khartoum, Khartoum north and Omdurman) expanded at the expense of agriculture, rangelands and forest lands

• In addition to that bricks kilns also expanded in agricultural land along the three Niles and cause a lot of environmental problems

Growth of Khartoum between 1972 and Growth of Khartoum between 1972 and 20002000

PopulationPopulation

Climate change impacts in SudanClimate change impacts in Sudan

• In Sudan, current major climate hazards consist of :

• drought and extreme flooding events, • In addition, there are other climate related

phenomena such as dust storms, thunderstorms, and heat waves whose occurrences, though less frequent, still pose serious threat to local livelihoods. Future climate change is expected to see these hazards intensify (NAPA).

The areas, which are frequently The areas, which are frequently affected by drought and floods, are:affected by drought and floods, are:

• Western Sudan (Kordofan and Darfur States) (drought and localized floods).

• Areas located along the Blue Nile River and the main Nile River which include the Northern state, Naher El Neil state, Khartoum and Gezira states (floods ).

• Eastern parts which include Kassala state and Red Sea state (drought and River El Gash floods).

Drought areas in SudanDrought areas in Sudan

Source: Fadl Elmoula (2005)

Areas vulnerable to flooding and Areas vulnerable to flooding and torrential rains in Sudantorrential rains in Sudan

Source: Source: Fadl Elmoula (2005)

Annual Rainfall Anomalies and Trend at Annual Rainfall Anomalies and Trend at Khartoum StationKhartoum Station

1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000Years

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1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005Years

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Annual Mean Temperature Anomalies and Annual Mean Temperature Anomalies and Trend at KhartoumTrend at Khartoum

Indicators for an environmental Indicators for an environmental hazard maphazard map

• An environmental hazard map was made (HCENR & SECS) for Sudan, for which eleven indicators were used these were: Human diseases, industrial pollution, overgrazing, deforestation, desertification, shortage of domestic water, unsafe domestic water, lack of safe sanitation, conflicts, urban problems, effect of chemical used in agriculture

Environmental hazards in Environmental hazards in KhartoumKhartoum

Indicator status of hazardhuman diseases highindustrial pollution highovergrazing very highdeforestation very highdesertification very highshortage of drinking water lowunsafe drinking water very lowconflict moderateurban problems higheffects of chemicals moderateAgreggation high

Water DrainageWater DrainageNatural water drainage in Khartoum State is divided into:

1- River Nile and its main tributaries (White and Blue Nile)2- Large seasonal streams (Wadi Hawad, Wadi Elmugadam etc). In the rainy season these Wadis are flooded with water from Khartoum as well as from neighbouring states3- Small seasonal streams, similar to the large streams they also drain rain water to the Nile during the rainy season .- Regular measurements of water of these streams is

lacking- there is strong need for construction of small dams and sudds for proper utilization of the seasonal water- many of these streams were believed to be obstructed by

developmental construction (roads, buildings etc) - Complains about absence of contour map to cover new expansions

Hydrological Map of KhartoumHydrological Map of Khartoum

Early warning system And the role of the Early warning system And the role of the Metrological AuthorityMetrological Authority

• The Met Authority understands the important of long term climate predictions (years, from 1-100 yrs) however lack of the right tools such as super computers represent an obstacle.

• Currently statistical approaches are used for seasonal predictions.

• Khartoum is given special consideration by the Met Authority mainly because:

• It is highly vulnerable (rains, flood of seasonal streams) • densely populated• Endangered by three rivers during the rainy season the

(Nile, Blue and White Nile). Accordingly beside the state forecast consideration of rain situations in the Ethiopian Plateau was also considered.

Location and number of internally displaced people in Sudan

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• The most serious and common natural disaster facing the population of Sudan is drought.

• Rural communities in many villages in Khartoum state have faced waves of drought since the 1970s, which have exacerbated rural poverty and precipitated large-scale displacement to the northern cities

• Uncontrolled sprawl, chronic solid waste management problems and the lack of wastewater treatment are the leading environmental problems facing Sudan’s urban centres.

• The explosive growth of the capital Khartoum continues persistently, with 64 percent of the country’s urban population residing in the area.

• Due to the relatively limited industrial development in Sudan to date, environmental damage has so far been moderate, but the situation could worsen rapidly as the country embarks on an oil-financed development boom.

• The release of effluent from factories and the disposal of produced water associated with crude oil extraction are issues of particular concern, as industrial wastewater treatment facilities are lacking,

• 80 % of the factories in Khartoum don’t have treatment plant for their sewage waste.

Studies revealed that existing methods of industrial waste disposal (Liquid, solid and gaseous) different types of industries in Khartoum, are not functioning well causing:– environmental problems – Health hazards to people living in the neighborhoods Absence of environmentally sound planning and regulation

system, defficiency of basic services and infrastructure• Recently (2007) a law was issued to control liquid waste drainage

based on the recommendation of Ministry of physical planning