Cholera Outbreak Expands in Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict
The World Health Organization warns of rising cholera cases in Sudan, affecting 13 states and threatening neighboring Chad.
GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a significant rise in cholera cases across Sudan, now present in 13 states, including North and South Darfur, which share borders with neighboring Chad, a country hosting a substantial population of Sudanese refugees.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has persisted for over two years, continues to exacerbate health crises, with the Sudanese army gaining control over Khartoum state this week amid escalating violence.
Dr. Shible Sahbani, the WHO representative for Sudan, stated that the current cholera outbreak has already led to 1,854 fatalities.
He emphasized the urgency of humanitarian corridors and temporary ceasefires to facilitate widespread vaccination campaigns against cholera and other diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.
Sahbani made these remarks via video link from Port Sudan, highlighting the pressing need for investment in public health measures including surveillance and educational programs to stem the tide of cholera.
Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease that spreads rapidly in conditions where sewage and drinking water are inadequately managed.
The situation is particularly dire for Sudanese refugees, some of whom have fled attacks on displacement camps in Darfur and are now living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on the Chadian border.
François Batalingaya, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, noted that approximately 300,000 individuals are currently stranded in these precarious conditions, facing severe shortages of aid due to insufficient funding.
While cholera has not been officially confirmed in Chad, suspected cases have been reported in Geneina, Sudan, located just 10 kilometers from the Chadian border.
Disease surveillance in areas adjacent to Libya is reportedly low, raising concerns about further potential outbreaks.
Fortunately, there has been a decrease in cholera case fatality rates in and around Khartoum, attributed to the launch of an oral cholera vaccination campaign earlier this month.
However, the humanitarian situation in Sudan remains critical.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher pointed to the country's dire circumstances, describing it as a stark example of global indifference amidst rampant impunity.
Fletcher highlighted the dire need for humanitarian aid, estimating that around 30 million people, or half of Sudan’s population, require lifesaving assistance in what has been termed the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Violent incidents such as indiscriminate shelling and airstrikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement, while the health infrastructure has been severely impaired.
Both cholera and other infectious diseases, including measles, are on the rise, further stressing a system already reeling from the impacts of conflict and inadequate resources.
Calls for accountability and funding are becoming increasingly urgent as the situation develops.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has persisted for over two years, continues to exacerbate health crises, with the Sudanese army gaining control over Khartoum state this week amid escalating violence.
Dr. Shible Sahbani, the WHO representative for Sudan, stated that the current cholera outbreak has already led to 1,854 fatalities.
He emphasized the urgency of humanitarian corridors and temporary ceasefires to facilitate widespread vaccination campaigns against cholera and other diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.
Sahbani made these remarks via video link from Port Sudan, highlighting the pressing need for investment in public health measures including surveillance and educational programs to stem the tide of cholera.
Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease that spreads rapidly in conditions where sewage and drinking water are inadequately managed.
The situation is particularly dire for Sudanese refugees, some of whom have fled attacks on displacement camps in Darfur and are now living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on the Chadian border.
François Batalingaya, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, noted that approximately 300,000 individuals are currently stranded in these precarious conditions, facing severe shortages of aid due to insufficient funding.
While cholera has not been officially confirmed in Chad, suspected cases have been reported in Geneina, Sudan, located just 10 kilometers from the Chadian border.
Disease surveillance in areas adjacent to Libya is reportedly low, raising concerns about further potential outbreaks.
Fortunately, there has been a decrease in cholera case fatality rates in and around Khartoum, attributed to the launch of an oral cholera vaccination campaign earlier this month.
However, the humanitarian situation in Sudan remains critical.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher pointed to the country's dire circumstances, describing it as a stark example of global indifference amidst rampant impunity.
Fletcher highlighted the dire need for humanitarian aid, estimating that around 30 million people, or half of Sudan’s population, require lifesaving assistance in what has been termed the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Violent incidents such as indiscriminate shelling and airstrikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement, while the health infrastructure has been severely impaired.
Both cholera and other infectious diseases, including measles, are on the rise, further stressing a system already reeling from the impacts of conflict and inadequate resources.
Calls for accountability and funding are becoming increasingly urgent as the situation develops.
