![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ND3GWNSCM5ANN4RPJEQQCAD7KE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b8742e33c16b9751eb8d1eec59cb622b5c915a9dd1241e860c4530a91a2cc8f&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia, on the 20th July. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7F2YKULNJGCBNJNB6TU2BM66OQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=225236943692677f75b343fbe31a896213126e6d8e88dec71d8585f74f303f39&width=400&height=225)
A satellite image shows the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile river in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Maxar Technologies via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TO3HJ3T7GWPDTZW6V4A6B4XJQA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f3271430089209480f8e9ab518ace79d125e95dedabbd0e39f0523d18690f89&width=400&height=225)
A satellite image of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and reservoir behind it on June 26, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZWZIVGEOC36DDYUZE2APDVFVVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=999251f653fc60b492fa232de9c20feb80e00406522146ec0b7f09c488c127e6&width=400&height=225)
A satellite image of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and reservoir behind it 16 days later on July 12, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QUU3J6T5L6WRBTSTOFNDW5DW3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0eafa048af43208297e4ff1103cfd1720ddb9c235aff0ce6b1652f5e8ef291b&width=400&height=225)
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia on July 12, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P3DO2SFY3GIHXDKNW6SP2GZAXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e87853caee12a4756210d2d2b5523a44d0544221dafe52fefc9d78a9a99e043&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia, on the 20th July. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RBA357EBCFWKUXMG7UJAEVGCHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d3bdc09d875341c39018ec6689a5367bd0b1b42e17eb4a737808240ea0d608b&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia, on the 20th July. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ND3GWNSCM5ANN4RPJEQQCAD7KE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b8742e33c16b9751eb8d1eec59cb622b5c915a9dd1241e860c4530a91a2cc8f&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia, on the 20th July. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7F2YKULNJGCBNJNB6TU2BM66OQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=225236943692677f75b343fbe31a896213126e6d8e88dec71d8585f74f303f39&width=400&height=225)
A satellite image shows the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile river in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Maxar Technologies via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TO3HJ3T7GWPDTZW6V4A6B4XJQA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f3271430089209480f8e9ab518ace79d125e95dedabbd0e39f0523d18690f89&width=400&height=225)
A satellite image of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and reservoir behind it on June 26, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZWZIVGEOC36DDYUZE2APDVFVVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=999251f653fc60b492fa232de9c20feb80e00406522146ec0b7f09c488c127e6&width=400&height=225)
A satellite image of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and reservoir behind it 16 days later on July 12, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QUU3J6T5L6WRBTSTOFNDW5DW3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0eafa048af43208297e4ff1103cfd1720ddb9c235aff0ce6b1652f5e8ef291b&width=400&height=225)
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia on July 12, 2020. Maxar Technologies via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P3DO2SFY3GIHXDKNW6SP2GZAXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2e87853caee12a4756210d2d2b5523a44d0544221dafe52fefc9d78a9a99e043&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia, on the 20th July. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RBA357EBCFWKUXMG7UJAEVGCHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d3bdc09d875341c39018ec6689a5367bd0b1b42e17eb4a737808240ea0d608b&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia, on the 20th July. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ND3GWNSCM5ANN4RPJEQQCAD7KE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b8742e33c16b9751eb8d1eec59cb622b5c915a9dd1241e860c4530a91a2cc8f&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River in Guba, northwest Ethiopia, on the 20th July. AFP