New cholera outbreak alert for Sudan’s war-weary communities
Cholera Resurgence Threatens Sudan's Struggling Population Amid Ongoing Conflict
A Growing Health Emergency in the Horn of Africa
New cholera outbreak alert for Sudan - Sudan is currently grappling with a severe cholera epidemic that has already resulted in over one hundred fatalities, intensifying worries for vulnerable populations scattered across the nation. The outbreak has particularly impacted communities in El-Obeid, a city within North Kordofan that endures persistent drone strikes, which continuously obstruct humanitarian assistance from reaching those in need.
Dr. Shible Sahbani, who serves as the World Health Organization's representative for Sudan, provided crucial insights during a press briefing held in Geneva. The physician noted that the waterborne illness has reemerged across multiple regions, with particular concentration in western territories encompassing both the Darfur and Kordofan areas.
"Cholera is back and it's affecting several states, mainly in the western part of the country, the Darfurs and the Kordofans," Dr. Sahbani stated to journalists gathered for the update.
Escalating Numbers and Expanding Concerns
According to the WHO official's report, health authorities have documented more than 1,330 confirmed infections alongside 114 recorded deaths. While cholera remains a preventable condition, it proves potentially lethal when medical intervention arrives too late. Aid organizations express profound apprehension that actual mortality figures likely exceed official counts, especially considering the hundreds of thousands of residents who have abandoned urban centers and countryside settlements throughout North Kordofan.
Sudan occupies a central position within Africa and currently serves as the primary battleground between two former allies: the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. This internal conflict has created conditions ripe for disease transmission, particularly as displaced populations congregate in overcrowded settlements with inadequate sanitation infrastructure.
The case fatality rate has reached an alarming 13.7 percent, according to Dr. Sahbani's assessment. Health experts anticipate this figure will climb further as the approaching rainy season creates additional opportunities for water contamination and disease spread throughout affected regions.
A Nation in Crisis
Sudan represents the most extensive humanitarian emergency globally, with over 33 million individuals requiring some form of assistance. Among this population, 21 million specifically need medical services to address both immediate and ongoing health challenges. Since hostilities commenced on April 15, 2023, at least 59,000 individuals have lost their lives in the fighting.
While certain populations have begun returning to areas experiencing relative stability, including the capital city of Khartoum, Dr. Sahbani emphasized that displacement remains massive. Approximately 13.4 million people continue to be displaced, with nine million residing within Sudan's borders and 4.6 million having sought refuge in neighboring nations.
"We are particularly concerned about the spread [of cholera] to El-Obeid in North Kordofan, where the access is very limited and where the fragile health system is under increasing strain," the WHO representative explained. "Health facilities are overwhelmed there and access to care is very, very limited."
Medical Response and International Appeals
Beyond the cholera emergency, Sudan faces simultaneous outbreaks of dengue fever, malaria, meningitis, hepatitis E, and measles, compounding the strain on already depleted healthcare resources. The WHO has positioned sufficient medical supplies to treat more than 25,000 individuals in El-Obeid, though Dr. Sahbani acknowledged these provisions fall short of what is truly necessary.
On Monday, the organization transported 8.5 tonnes of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals to Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan through an inter-agency convoy. This delivery marked the first WHO shipment to reach Kadugli since December 2024, following extended periods during which access blockages prevented aid from reaching the region.
"We call for our partners and donors to help us to be able first to access and second to be able to send enough supplies and enough facilities in El-Obeid. But we know that the situation there is very, very bad and it's worsening with higher risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, violence, including violence against women and children," Dr. Sahbani concluded.
Dr. Sahbani also reinforced recent appeals from Volker Türk, the United Nations human rights chief, urging the international community to intervene and prevent additional atrocities in El-Obeid. The appeal references the tragic mass killings that occurred in El Fasher when RSF forces captured the city last October, serving as a warning of what might unfold if international attention wavers.