Artisanal gold mining, which surged after 2008 and accelerated in the last six years, is devastating eastern Sudan’s agricultural heartland. In Abu Hamad, once‑lush orchards and fields that supplied dates, citrus, and cereals to Khartoum and Port Sudan have been cleared, replaced by shops and mining waste. Over 700 mounds of grey tailings now litter the landscape, leaching hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air.
The contamination is triggering a public‑health crisis, as pollutants threaten crops, livestock and local communities. Farmers face dwindling yields and heightened disease risk, while the broader region confronts food insecurity and economic decline linked to the unregulated gold rush.
Source: Environment | The Guardian
