Sudan’s Cholera Outbreak, International Concern

Agencies – Sudan Events

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed grave concern over the severe impact of the conflict in Sudan on access to health care, with the cholera epidemic continuing to spread across the country.
It explained in a press statement that the number of suspected cases of cholera rose by more than 100% over the past month, as nearly 8,300 suspected cases and more than 200 deaths were reported in nine states, as of December 23, according to World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sudan Ministry of Health data.
It reported that this includes more than 1,800 suspected cases of cholera in Gezira State, where violent clashes between the armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) this month led to the displacement of at least 300,000 people.
The UN office confirmed that the humanitarian community in Sudan is working to support the detection and treatment of cholera cases, as well as vaccination campaigns.
But OCHA alerted that ongoing fighting continues to hamper response efforts and disrupt access to basic public health services.
Nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s population lacks access to healthcare, with more than 70% of hospitals in conflict-affected areas out of service.