Sudan on the Verge of a Public Health Catastrophe from Cholera Outbreak

War-torn Sudan is facing a looming public health disaster as the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns of the rapid spread of cholera and other deadly diseases. In just one week, the Sudanese Health Ministry reported 172 deaths linked to a cholera outbreak, with the majority of new cases emerging from Khartoum state.

Local doctors, as reported by Sudanese media, attribute the outbreak to drone attacks that have caused power outages at water purification stations, forcing residents to rely on contaminated water sources. IRC’s country director for Sudan, Eatizaz Yousif, emphasized that the ongoing civil war, now in its third year, is exacerbating the cholera resurgence.

The IRC has highlighted the critically low coverage of cholera vaccines and the dwindling availability of essential medical supplies. Additionally, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported thousands of suspected cholera cases in Khartoum since mid-July. MSF’s medical coordinator in Sudan, Slaymen Ammar, noted that the conflict has severely compromised basic infrastructure, rendering healthcare in parts of the capital either unavailable or unaffordable. Many remaining health workers have been forced to flee due to the ongoing violence.

In the past week alone, Khartoum reported as many as 500 new cholera cases in a single day. Beyond Khartoum, cases have also been documented in northern and southern Sudan. While most individuals with cholera may experience mild symptoms or none at all, the disease can be fatal if it leads to severe diarrhea, necessitating antibiotics and intravenous fluids for treatment, as per the World Health Organization.

The ongoing conflict, which erupted over two years ago between Sudan’s army and the UAE backed (RSF) in a brutal struggle for power, has claimed over 150,000 lives and displaced millions. The United Nations has described the situation as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.