In recent weeks, a severe cholera outbreak in Sudan’s White Nile State has claimed the lives of almost 100 people, as reported by an international humanitarian organization. Since the onset of the outbreak on February 20, a total of 2,700 individuals have fallen ill, and among them, 92 have succumbed to the disease. Tragically, 18 of those who died were children, with five under the age of five and another five under the age of nine. This distressing information was shared by the emergency coordinator for Sudan at Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Sudan has been steeped in conflict for nearly two years due to tensions between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These hostilities have erupted in Khartoum and other parts of the nation. Notably, last month in the White Nile State, the RSF launched aggressive assaults, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including infants. The Sudanese military claimed at that time to have gained ground, hindering supply routes to the RSF.
On February 16, during one of RSF’s attacks in the White Nile State, a projectile damaged the Rabak power plant, leading to a sizable power outage. This incident was a catalyst for the recent surge in cholera cases, as reported by MSF. The power disruption forced residents to rely predominantly on water delivered by donkey carts due to non-operational water pumps. According to MSF emergency coordinator Marta Cazorla, such attacks on essential infrastructure severely affect the health of vulnerable populations over the long term.
The cholera outbreak reached its apex between February 20 and 24, when Kosti Teaching Hospital was overwhelmed by the influx of patients and their families. MSF noted that the hospital exceeded its capacity as most patients were suffering from severe dehydration. To aid the situation, MSF provided 25 tons of supplies, including beds and tents, to assist the hospital in managing the surge of cholera cases. Cazorla added that patient numbers in the cholera treatment center were dwindling and had remained low until this recent increase.
In an effort to combat the outbreak, the White Nile State Health Ministry has taken measures such as providing clean water to the community and prohibiting the use of donkey carts for water transportation. Furthermore, a vaccination campaign was initiated as soon as the outbreak began. According to Sudan’s health ministry, there have been 57,135 reported cases of cholera, with 1,506 fatalities across 12 out of the country’s 18 states. The ministry officially declared a cholera outbreak on August 12 of the previous year following a spike in cases from July 22.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has had devastating consequences, resulting in at least 20,000 fatalities, though actual numbers are expected to be much higher. The war has led to widespread displacement, leaving over 14 million people homeless, pushing parts of the country into famine, and triggering disease outbreaks.
