Sudan is grappling with a significant cholera outbreak that has affected around 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization.
In the heart of North Darfur state, El-Fasher, reports suggest that people are resorting to eating animal feed to survive [1]. This heart-wrenching scenario is just one of the many challenges facing Sudan, a country that has been grappling with a serious cholera outbreak since late July 2024.
The outbreak, which has spread to all but one state in the country, has infected over 96,700 people and caused more than 2,400 deaths [1]. The situation is particularly severe in areas like North Darfur’s Tawila locality, where thousands of suspected cases continue amid access and surveillance challenges [1][2][3].
The root causes of the outbreak include displacement due to ongoing conflict, the breakdown of water supply systems, lack of access to safe water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, and disrupted health services. These issues have been further aggravated by attacks damaging power and water infrastructure [1][2][5].
In response, the World Health Organization (WHO), together with UNICEF and other partners, is actively working to contain the outbreak. Their efforts include supporting and expanding oral cholera vaccination campaigns, providing medical supplies, enhancing surveillance and response coordination, and supporting treatment centres [1][2][4].
Oral cholera vaccination campaigns have been conducted in several states, including the capital Khartoum [1]. However, the UN health agency's efforts are being held back by limited access and a lack of funding. The WHO has received less than a third of the money it has appealed for to provide urgent health assistance in Sudan [1].
Meanwhile, malnutrition remains a critical concern in Sudan, exacerbated by poor sanitation, lack of safe water, and disrupted health systems which also contribute to vulnerability to diseases like cholera. Around 770,000 children under five years old in Sudan are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year [1].
The WHO's role is focused on emergency response coordination, vaccination campaigns, treatment support, and surveillance improvement to mitigate Sudan’s cholera outbreak amid challenging humanitarian and infrastructural conditions [1][2][4][5]. The UN health agency's efforts to treat malnutrition are also being hindered by limited access and funding shortages.
The power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces, since April 2023, has resulted in widespread violence, killing tens of thousands of people [1]. This violence has led to widespread hunger, disease, and suffering, as stated by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus [1].
Recent floods in Sudan are expected to worsen hunger and fuel more outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dengue, and other diseases [1]. Millions of people across Sudan are going hungry, and the situation is expected to worsen with more disease outbreaks and displacement. As long as the violence continues in Sudan, "we can expect to see more hunger, more displacement, and more disease," according to the WHO director-general [1].
References: [1] WHO (2025). Sudan cholera outbreak response. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/2020/sitrep-4-2020-02-28-2.pdf [2] UNICEF (2024). Sudan cholera outbreak response. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/sudan_68876.html [3] MSF (2024). Sudan cholera outbreak response. Retrieved from https://www.msf.org/sudan/sudan-cholera-outbreak-response [4] WHO (2024). Cholera vaccination campaigns in Sudan. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/cholera-vaccination-campaigns-in-sudan [5] OCHA (2024). Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/sudan/humanitarian-response-plan
- In the face of the cholera outbreak in Sudan, health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and others are intensifying their efforts to contain the spread.
- The heart-wrenching scenario of people in North Darfur, Sudan, eating animal feed to survive is just one example of the many health-and-wellness challenges in the country.
- The root causes of the Sudanese cholera outbreak can be traced back to displacement due to ongoing conflicts, broken water supply systems, inadequate sanitation, and the disruption of health services.
- Meanwhile, malnutrition continues to be a critical concern in Sudan, with around 770,000 children under five expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year.
- The immense violence in Sudan, such as attacks damaging power and water infrastructure, has further exacerbated these health issues.
- The WHO is focusing on emergency response coordination, vaccination campaigns, treatment support, and surveillance improvement to combat the ongoing cholera outbreak.
- The power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has resulted in widespread violence, causing tens of thousands of deaths and fueling disease outbreaks like cholera.
- As the cholera outbreak continues in Sudan, recent floods are expected to worsen hunger and contribute to further outbreaks of diseases like malaria, dengue, and other health-threatening conditions.
