The state of White Nile in Sudan

Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency features the state of White Nile in Sudan. The state is divided into four districts: Ad Douiem, Al Gutaina, Kosti and Al Jabalian.

The false-color image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, highlights the region just north of Kosti on the west bank of the White Nile River. The river earned its name because of the light-colored clay sediment which makes the river look grey.

Agriculture plays a central role in Sudan’s economy. According to ESA, the country’s main crops include cotton, peanuts, sesame, and sugarcane.

During the months of August and September, monsoon rains from the Ethiopian Highlands flow into the Nile rivers, often flooding the surrounding communities. 

This year, a series of torrential downpours has impacted hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes across northeastern Africa. Some of the hardest hit areas are in the state of White Nile. 

Floods in Sudan contribute to food insecurity by destroying crops and killing livestock. According to NASA, White Nile is facing what the Famine Early Warning Systems Network has classified as “crisis” levels of food insecurity.

Video Credit: ESA

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer