Health Crisis in Sudan: Cholera Outbreak Claims 172 Lives in One Week

Sudan is currently facing a serious public health emergency as cholera continues to spread rapidly across the country. According to a report issued by the Federal Emergency Health Operations Center, the Ministry of Health has recorded 2,729 new cholera infections and 172 related deaths within just one week—most of them in the capital state of Khartoum.

The hardest-hit areas include the localities of Karari, Omdurman, and Umbadda in Khartoum, which together account for approximately 90% of the new cases. Other affected states include North Kordofan, Sennar, Gezira, White Nile, and River Nile.

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) has expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis, stating that treatment centers in Omdurman are overwhelmed. Many patients are arriving in critical condition, reducing their chances of survival. The organization has called for an urgent expansion of water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, as well as the establishment of more treatment centers.

The spread of cholera has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since 2023. The war has devastated essential infrastructure, including water and sanitation facilities. Reports indicate that drone strikes have caused electricity outages at water treatment plants, forcing residents to rely on unsafe water sources.

The International Rescue Committee has warned that Sudan is “on the brink of a public health catastrophe.” It pointed to low vaccination coverage and dwindling supplies of essential medicines and equipment.

With the health system collapsing and the humanitarian situation worsening, the cholera outbreak in Sudan represents a dire emergency that demands immediate intervention from the international community to prevent further loss of life and contain the disease.