New clashes erupted in Sudan’s capital on Thursday amidst a surge in casualties from the country’s deteriorating cholera epidemic, as confirmed by officials and Sudanese media outlets. The Sudanese military initiated an operation in the early hours of Thursday with the objective of gaining control over regions in the capital that were previously held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF. Reports from local media indicated heightened military movements and airstrikes in the areas of Khartoum and Omdurman, marking the most intense military activity in the capital in several months. While a military spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing operation, further details were not disclosed. This escalation coincides with Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of Sudan’s military, scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on the same day.
The city of El Fasher, the North Darfur state capital, has been a focal point of severe conflict for months, with RSF forces laying siege to the city since May. Recently, the UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, denounced an artillery attack on a market in El Fasher on Sep. 20 and 21, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 civilians.
In another distressing development, Sudan’s health ministry revealed that the death toll from the cholera outbreak had risen by nearly 100, or roughly 20%, within just two days. Since the onset of the country’s rainy season two months ago, a total of 473 individuals have succumbed to cholera, indicating a rapid spread of the disease. The health ministry’s update on Wednesday reported 14,944 cholera cases across ten states, with 386 new cases recorded. Six fatalities were reported on Tuesday across six states.
Kassala recorded the highest number of cases, prompting collaborative efforts between UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Sudanese health ministry to administer a second round of the oral cholera vaccination campaign that commenced the previous week. UNICEF delivered 404,000 vaccine doses to Sudan on Sep. 9, with additional vaccination drives expected in other affected regions.
Cholera was declared an official outbreak by the health ministry on August 12 following the emergence of new cases beginning July 22. The disease has been spreading in areas ravaged by heavy rains and floods, notably in eastern Sudan, which has served as a haven for millions displaced by the conflicts between the Sudanese military and the RSF. Cholera is a highly infectious ailment that induces diarrhea, severe dehydration, and can be lethal without prompt treatment, according to WHO, primarily transmitted through contaminated food or water sources.
The health ministry disclosed that over 900 areas across 11 states were affected by cholera between June and September 24, with the northern state bearing the brunt of the impact. UNICEF highlighted the heightened risk of epidemic diseases for an estimated 3.4 million children under the age of five. The enduring warfare in Sudan has fostered environments conducive to disease outbreaks, exacerbating the plight of millions already grappling with food insecurity and displacement. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 following escalating tensions between the military and RSF, has compounded the humanitarian crisis in the region.
