Egypt and Sudan view the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a threat to their vital water supplies, while upstream Ethiopia considers it crucial for its economic development and electrification. The Nile, the world's longest river, is a lifeline supplying both water and electricity to the 10 countries it traverses. Its main tributaries, the White and Blue Niles, converge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum before flowing north through Egypt to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. Heavy rainfall of late in parts of the Nile catchment area have eased fears of water shortages in the short term. "The Blue Nile reached 17.32 metres, its highest level since the start of the recording readings more than a century ago," the water ministry said.

Source: Ethiopian News August 25, 2020 17:48 UTC