Sudan experiences severe cholera epidemic in recent times
In Sudan, the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis. The conflict has crippled the health system, making treatments for cholera often inaccessible, and has resulted in at least 63 deaths from malnutrition in El-Facher alone in the past week.
According to UNICEF, over 2,408 deaths have been recorded in 17 of the 18 states since August 2024. The war in Sudan has claimed tens of thousands of lives and is described by the UN as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis."
The cholera epidemic, a waterborne and foodborne diarrheal disease, is spreading across the country, threatening millions of lives, particularly children. Over 640,000 children under five are at risk in North Darfur alone. The disease has already claimed at least 40 lives in Darfur, western Sudan, in the last week.
The situation is most critical in Tawila, where hundreds of thousands of Sudanese have found refuge due to fighting around El-Facher. Residents in Tawila survive with an average of only three liters of water per day, less than half the minimum emergency threshold recommended by the WHO. In displacement camps in Tawila, families often drink contaminated water, exacerbating the spread of cholera.
The outbreak has spread beyond camps into wider localities, including Darfur, which has prompted calls for a coordinated international emergency response mechanism. Medical teams, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) collaborating with Sudan’s Ministry of Health, have significantly expanded cholera treatment centers, such as the Damazin Hospital center in Blue Nile state, increasing beds from 50 to 250 to meet rising cases, many complicated by malnutrition.
MSF is ready to cooperate with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WHO to begin mass vaccination efforts against cholera. However, efforts remain hindered by funding shortages, ongoing conflict, and logistical barriers to reaching affected populations. Nearly 25 million people are facing acute food insecurity in Sudan.
The rainy season, which intensifies in August, could exacerbate the health crisis in Sudan. Two weeks ago, a body was found in a well in Tawila and was used again for drinking water by residents two days later. This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for clean water, soap, and medicines in Sudan.
Current efforts to combat the cholera epidemic and address the water crisis in Sudan’s displacement camps involve expanding treatment capacity, improving water and sanitation services, and planning mass vaccination campaigns. However, these are urgently needed to match the rapid spread of cholera across displacement camps and broader conflict-affected areas in Sudan, especially Darfur.
References:
- https://www.msf.org/en/press-room/press-releases/msf-calls-for-urgent-action-to-address-cholera-outbreak-in-sudan
- https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-calls-urgent-action-sudan-where-640000-children-under-five-threatened-cholera
- https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-sudan-cholera-outbreak-threatens-children-north-darfur
- https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/aug/10/sudan-faces-worlds-worst-humanitarian-crisis-as-cholera-outbreak-spreads-amidst-ongoing-conflict
