UPDATE: Cholera cases in Sudan are surging at an alarming rate, with over 12,739 reported infections and 358 fatalities in Darfur alone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This urgent situation follows a devastating civil war that has claimed at least 40,000 lives since it erupted in April 2023.
The outbreak, which began in Kassala in July 2022, has now spread to all 18 states of Sudan, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. Hala Khudari, the WHO’s deputy representative in Sudan, stated that the vaccination campaign targeting 406,000 people in North Darfur is underway, but challenges persist. “Cholera cases in Darfur continue to rise at an alarming fatality rate,” Khudari emphasized during a press briefing from Port Sudan.
As of Sunday, the WHO reported that cholera is rampant in more than half of Darfur’s localities, where severe access constraints are hindering effective response measures. The dire situation is further complicated by the ongoing conflict, which has displaced up to 12 million people and pushed many to the brink of famine.
Khudari highlighted the critical nature of the situation, stating that “reported cases in Darfur continue to increase amid severe access constraints that are impeding the required scale of response.” The civil war between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has created immense challenges for delivering basic services, including clean water, food, and healthcare.
As the cholera outbreak worsens, health officials are calling for immediate international assistance. The WHO has set a fatality threshold of 1%, yet Sudan’s cholera outbreak currently stands at a staggering 2.7%, indicating a severe public health crisis.
The international community is urged to respond swiftly to this urgent situation, as the humanitarian needs in Sudan continue to expand. With the situation evolving rapidly, authorities are monitoring developments closely and calling for coordinated efforts to curb the spread of cholera and provide relief to those affected.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
