Cases / War and military activity · Sudan · 2023–2026
Gezira irrigation scheme: wartime losses in Al Gezira State
Nature's voice · report
At least 6,126 ha of my natural vegetation in Al Gezira State were lost, according to CEOBS satellite analysis, which named the stationing of military forces in forested areas and fuelwood and charcoal cutting during gas shortages as drivers.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record.
Recorded
- About 9% of the Gezira scheme's agricultural land was lost between 2019/20 and 2023/24, CEOBS reported. Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS)
- Irrigation channels on my land were diverted and fields flooded, according to the EUAA as cited by Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera
- Al Jazeera's satellite analysis showed improved crop health on my land in December 2025, still well below pre-war levels. Al Jazeera
- Pesticide stores in the scheme were damaged and looted, and banned pesticides such as DDT were reportedly still in use, CEOBS reported. Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS)
Satellite analysis and agency figures record a fall in crop health, diverted and flooded canals, a 58% fall in wheat production and at least 6,126 ha of natural vegetation lost in Al Gezira State after fighting reached Sudan's largest irrigation scheme in 2023.
9%Share of the Gezira scheme's agricultural land lost, 2019/20 to 2023/24
CEOBS. The scheme covers about 924,000 ha with more than 8,000 km of canals (Al Jazeera, 4 May 2026).
CEOBS. The scheme covers about 924,000 ha with more than 8,000 km of canals (Al Jazeera, 4 May 2026).
Status As of 4 May 2026 (latest dated source): satellite analysis showed crop health improved in December 2025 but remained well below pre-war levels; no legal proceedings are on record.
What?
Fighting in 2023–2025 in Sudan's Gezira irrigation scheme was followed by a fall in crop health, diverted and flooded canals, lost agricultural land, at least 6,126 ha of natural vegetation lost in Al Gezira State and a 58% fall in wheat production, according to CEOBS, Al Jazeera and FAO. Al Jazeera
Where?
Gezira Scheme between the Blue and White Niles, Al Gezira State, Sudan, with its centre near Wad Madani; the Rahad and Suki schemes. Al Jazeera
When?
RSF capture of Wad Madani in December 2023; SAF retook Singa in November 2024, Wad Madani in January 2025 and most of Gezira and Sennar by March 2025; analysis published 4 May 2026. Al Jazeera
Who?
Gained
None on recordLost
- Farmers in the scheme — A 50 kg bag of fertiliser rose from 20,000 to 120,000 Sudanese pounds and tractor rental prices tripled, per Al Jazeera Al Jazeera
- Factories in Gezira — 126 large and 3,131 small factories damaged, per the Minister of Industry Al Jazeera
Harmed
- Natural vegetation in Al Gezira State — At least 6,126 ha lost (CEOBS) Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS)
- The scheme's agricultural land — 9% lost between 2019/20 and 2023/24 (CEOBS) Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS)
Why?
Al Jazeera, citing the EUAA, reported that RSF fighters diverted irrigation channels and flooded fields; CEOBS named the stationing of military forces in forested areas and fuelwood and charcoal cutting during gas shortages as drivers of vegetation loss. Al Jazeera
How?
Diverted and flooded canals, displaced farming communities and tree cutting, according to Al Jazeera and CEOBS, which also reported pesticide stores damaged and looted. Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS)
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
The Gezira Scheme, between the Blue and White Niles, covers about 924,000 ha with more than 8,000 km of canals and historically produced half of Sudan's wheat, according to Al Jazeera's 4 May 2026 analysis of Sentinel-2 vegetation-index and Planet Labs satellite imagery. The Rahad and Suki schemes lie in the same area.
Al Jazeera reported that the RSF captured Wad Madani in December 2023, and that the SAF retook Singa in November 2024, Wad Madani in January 2025 and most of Gezira and Sennar by March 2025. CEOBS recorded 733 security incidents in the scheme between April 2023 and August 2024. Al Jazeera's analysis showed improved crop health in December 2025, still well below pre-war levels.
Citing the EUAA, Al Jazeera reported that RSF fighters diverted irrigation channels, flooded fields and used harvested crop bags as bridges, and that farmers flooded their own canals to stop RSF vehicles. Al Jazeera wrote: "The collapse was not caused by climate anomalies."
CEOBS reported that 9% of the scheme's agricultural land was lost between 2019/20 and 2023/24 and that "Fighting in the region has displaced farming communities". It reported that at least 6,126 ha of natural vegetation were lost in Al Gezira State, with the drivers given as "the stationing of military forces in forested areas" and fuelwood and charcoal cutting during gas shortages. CEOBS also reported that pesticide stores were damaged and looted and that banned pesticides such as DDT were reportedly still in use.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), cited by Al Jazeera, put the fall in Gezira wheat production at 58% in the 2023–2024 season. A 50 kg bag of fertiliser rose from 20,000 to 120,000 Sudanese pounds (stated as USD 33 to USD 200) and tractor rental prices tripled. Minister of Industry Mahasin Ali Yagoub, cited by Al Jazeera, said 126 large and 3,131 small factories had been damaged in Gezira.
- 2023Dec: the RSF captures Wad Madani; Apr 2023 – Aug 2024: CEOBS records 733 security incidents in the scheme
- 2024Nov: the SAF retakes Singa; 2023–2024 season: FAO figure shows Gezira wheat production down 58%
- 2025Jan: the SAF retakes Wad Madani; by Mar: most of Gezira and Sennar retaken; Dec: vegetation index shows improved crop health, still well below pre-war levels
- 20264 May: Al Jazeera publishes its satellite analysis of the scheme
What was said
Claims, in the words of those who made them.
“The collapse was not caused by climate anomalies.”
“Fighting in the region has displaced farming communities”
“the stationing of military forces in forested areas”
How it looked
What was shown, beside what was recorded.
Shown
- RSF fighters diverted irrigation channels, flooded fields and used harvested crop bags as bridges; farmers flooded their own canals to stop RSF vehicles.EUAA, as cited by Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera
- 126 large and 3,131 small factories were damaged in Gezira.Minister of Industry Mahasin Ali Yagoub, as cited by Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera
Recorded
- CEOBS recorded 733 security incidents in the scheme between April 2023 and August 2024.
- 9% of the scheme's agricultural land was lost between 2019/20 and 2023/24 (CEOBS).
- At least 6,126 ha of natural vegetation were lost in Al Gezira State (CEOBS satellite analysis).
- CEOBS reported that pesticide stores were damaged and looted and that banned pesticides such as DDT were reportedly still in use.
- FAO figure cited by Al Jazeera: Gezira wheat production fell 58% in the 2023–2024 season.
Who gained
Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.
Reached nature or the ground
Not published
No figure published.
Gained elsewhere
Not totalled
Currency: · Window: . All figures cover the same period. * Estimate built from cited figures.
Responses on record
- Government of Sudan (Ministry of Industry) (2026-05): Minister Mahasin Ali Yagoub said 126 large and 3,131 small factories had been damaged in Gezira. · Al Jazeera
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What nature saw
Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
Natural vegetation lost in Al Gezira State
At least 6,126 ha
CEOBS satellite analysis
Share of the scheme's agricultural land lost, 2019/20 to 2023/24
9%
CEOBS
Gezira wheat production, 2023–2024 season
−58%
FAO, cited by Al Jazeera
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Court
- None on record No court case on record.
Record
- Insufficient Insufficient: the Al Jazeera analysis does not give cultivated area by year.
- None on record None on record: quotations from the RSF or the SAF in the Al Jazeera analysis.
- None on record None on record: legal proceedings; insurance.
Did the harm stop?
None on record. Al Jazeera's analysis showed improved crop health in December 2025, still well below pre-war levels.
Who paid?
None on record.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers
Press and investigations
- Satellite imagery reveals how Sudan's war scorched its 'breadbasket'Al Jazeera · 2026-05-04
Communities and civil society
- The environmental costs of the war in SudanConflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) · 2025-05-21
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