The humanitarian crisis in Sudan, caused by the ongoing civil war, has led to an increase in infections, including cholera, which has claimed over 300 lives. This information was reported by a World Health Organization (WHO) official, Margaret Harris, on Friday.
According to WHO, there have been 11,327 reported cholera cases and 316 deaths. Other diseases, such as dengue fever and meningitis, are also on the rise. “We expect to see more cases than those already reported,” Harris added. The recent cholera outbreaks have proven to be more deadly, with the mortality rate being the highest recorded in over a decade. Cholera is caused by a bacterium that spreads through contaminated food and water, making access to clean water and sanitation crucial to slowing the disease’s transmission. The illness can be fatal within hours without treatment, but it can also cause mild or no symptoms. Children under five years old are particularly vulnerable.
The war in Sudan has forced one in five people to flee their homes, with the violence resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Over 25 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population, are facing acute hunger and disease outbreaks. A famine has also been declared in a refugee camp in Darfur, making humanitarian aid difficult to access.
In addition to internally displaced persons, millions have also been forced to flee to neighboring countries, such as Chad, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The situation is further complicated by the fact that thousands of Sudanese have been displaced by recent floods in the Nile State and Kassala, which borders Eritrea.
The conflict has been raging since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy Mohamed “Hemedti” Hamdan Daglo.
Several international actors, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations, are working to bring the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF to the negotiating table for a ceasefire. Negotiations in Switzerland, which also involve experts and representatives from civil society, aim to achieve an end to hostilities and improve humanitarian access.