Sudan health crisis: Hunger and disease are escalating in conflict-hit Sudan, where famine has taken hold in several areas, 25 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and nearly 100,000 cholera cases have been reported since last July, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The country’s ongoing war between the army and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced millions, split Sudan into rival zones of control, and severely disrupted humanitarian operations. The RSF remains entrenched in western Sudan, while funding cuts are further restricting aid delivery.
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“Relentless violence has pushed Sudan’s health system to the edge, adding to a crisis marked by hunger, illness and despair,” said Ilham Nour, WHO’s Senior Emergency Officer. She cautioned that an estimated 7,70,000 children under the age of five could experience severe acute malnutrition this year, thereby exacerbating the disease burden.
The cholera outbreak has also spread beyond Sudan’s borders. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported that the Dougui refugee settlement in eastern Chad, which shelters refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region, has recorded 264 cholera cases and 12 deaths.
To contain the spread, UNHCR has suspended the relocation of refugees from the Sudan-Chad border. “Without urgent action, including access to medical treatment, clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and most importantly relocation from the border, many more lives are on the line,” warned Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR’s situation coordinator in the region.
