In the past month, more than 430 individuals have succumbed to cholera in Sudan, with the number of infections rising to approximately 14,000, according to the country’s health ministry. This alarming surge in cases comes as Sudan continues to grapple with a devastating civil war that has significantly hampered efforts to address the outbreak.
The health ministry has stated that it is making every effort to control the cholera crisis in affected regions, but the ongoing conflict has severely complicated the delivery of medical assistance. The war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been described by the UN as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, estimates that up to 150,000 people have died since the conflict’s onset.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported that their operations are frequently obstructed by both warring factions, and the humanitarian response remains critically inadequate. MSF’s recent report highlights the collapse of Sudan’s health system, noting a distressing increase in maternal and infant deaths. The organization’s emergency coordinator for Sudan, Esperanza Santos, described the situation as a “perfect storm” for cholera, exacerbated by ongoing violence, heavy rainfall, and floods. The overcrowded conditions in displacement camps further fuel the outbreak.
Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim officially declared a cholera outbreak in mid-August. Cholera, a highly contagious disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, can be treated effectively if addressed promptly. However, the current conflict has made it difficult to provide rapid and necessary medical care. In response to the outbreak, authorities have closed schools, markets, and stores in some areas to help prevent the disease’s spread.
MSF’s report details that 114 maternal deaths were recorded in South Darfur alone between January and August, with thousands of children facing starvation. The report warns that the dire conditions in South Darfur are likely reflective of the broader crisis affecting isolated and war-torn regions across Sudan. Dr. Gillian Burkhardt, MSF’s sexual and reproductive health manager in South Darfur, called the situation “unlike any other I have seen in my career.”
The urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian aid and a resolution to the conflict is critical to mitigating the cholera outbreak and addressing the broader health crisis in Sudan.
