Egypt: Egypt affirmed on Friday that the "irresponsible and unilateral" management of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has caused a shift in the natural flooding time of the Nile River, resulting in a more forceful man-made flood later this year.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Egypt's Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources issued a statement regarding the Nile flood caused by the Ethiopian dam. The ministry criticized the undisciplined actions, noting significant damage in Sudan, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The flood poses a threat to the lives and properties of Egyptians and Sudanese residing at the river's mouth. Egypt has repeatedly warned that the dam's capacity of 74 billion cubic meters violates international law in the absence of a binding legal agreement. These developments present a continuous threat to Egypt and Sudan, especially during flood and drought periods.
The ministry is closely monitoring the Nile flood, which occurs from July to October, peaking in July. It emphasized that Ethiopia should have gradually stored water from June to October and released it in an organized manner to generate electricity throughout the year. However, following the recent rapid filling of the dam, Ethiopia released large amounts of water, resulting in a huge flood.
Proactive measures have been taken by Egypt, including instructing governors on September 7 to alert citizens and ensure precautions are taken to protect property and crops on the Nile's floodplain lands, despite these being considered illegal encroachments. The ministry also refuted social media reports claiming flooding in governorates, labeling them as false.
The Egyptian state continues to monitor the situation continuously, with the high dam serving as a primary safeguard against floods.