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Health authorities in Sudan sounded the alarm with the strong outbreak of the cholera disease, especially in areas affected by heavy rains and floods.

The authorities recorded more than 388 deaths and 13,000 infections in the past two months. The disease has been monitored in 10 out of 18 states in the country, including the states of Kassala, Gedaref, the Red Sea, the North, and the Nile. These are areas that have reached a level of danger and require urgent intervention.

The cholera epidemic in Sudan has worsened in an alarming way since the middle of 2024, as the Federal Ministry of Health officially declared the outbreak of the disease on August 12, 2024, after a wave new outbreak of cases that began on July 22, leading to the registration of 8,457 cases and 299 deaths in eight Sudanese states until mid-September.

This revolution comes at a critical time, because Sudan is suffering from several crises that will have a major impact on their health infrastructure.

The health crisis is getting worse

The cholera outbreak coincided with the rainy season and floods, making it more difficult to control the spread of the disease.

According to reports by Sheldon Yate, UNICEF Representative in Sudan, the current situation represents a race against time to prevent infectious diseases that could spread rapidly due to these harsh climatic conditions.

With approximately 15 million people in 14 states at risk of flooding, and 3.1 million people at risk of cholera from July to December 2024, Sudan is in a serious health crisis.

The spread of cholera is the result of the deterioration of the water and sanitation infrastructure, which has been made worse by the war that has been going on for several years.

With national vaccination rates falling to 50% compared to 85% before the war, the most vulnerable groups, especially children under the age of five, are at risk of not only contracting cholera, but other epidemic diseases such as Measles, malaria and dengue fever. .

It is estimated that 3.4 million children under the age of five are at risk of these diseases due to low levels of vaccination.

These challenges come amid a lack of security stability and the war that has led to the destruction of more than 70% of hospitals in conflict areas.

This destruction, along with months of non-payment of health workers’ salaries, has hampered Sudan’s ability to effectively respond to these health crises. Conflict has also hampered the delivery of vital supplies such as vaccines.

Warning

Sonali Kordi, Deputy Director of the Office of Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), warned of the deteriorating conditions in Sudan, and told Al-Hurra TV, “25 million people has begun to suffer from hunger, and horrors are promised every day that must stop.

Kordi explained that the rate of deaths due to cholera is “higher than normal,” while Sudan suffers from food insecurity. She noted that women “bear the brunt” of the conflict, and are subject to “horrific violations”.

Kordi pointed out that the United States provided humanitarian aid to Sudan worth $1.6 billion in 2023, but there is a dire need for more funding and resources. “We must allow the movement of aid workers to reach everyone, especially children, to provide food, medicine and shelter,” she said.

Kordi pointed out that natural disasters, such as floods, hamper relief efforts, especially in Darfur, as well as man-made obstacles such as bureaucracy and visas that hinder the entry of relief teams.

Kordi stressed that the best way to prevent the spread of the disease in Sudan is to provide clean water and health infrastructure in the camps, in addition to providing food, health care , and vaccinations, as famine and disease spread in the overcrowded camps. .

The American official called on the actors in Sudan to remove these barriers immediately, stressing that most of these restrictions are man-made and can be removed.

In this context, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Sudan and the World Health Organization, launched a cholera vaccination campaign in Kassala.

The second round of this campaign was launched in September 2024 and continues for five days, during which 404,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine were delivered to Sudan.

The campaign includes many other prevention activities, such as distributing home water treatment tablets and setting up oral rehydration centers to ensure that people with the disease receive appropriate treatment.

In addition to vaccination efforts, UNICEF works to raise awareness in local communities about ways to prevent cholera, through media and awareness campaigns targeting the most vulnerable populations to the disease.

To date, more than 1.9 million people have been assisted through chlorination of water sources in the affected states.

Effects of floods on the spread of disease

The heavy rains and floods that hit Sudan worsened the health situation, as polluted water helps cholera to spread faster.

In addition, ongoing conflict situations pose a major challenge to the delivery of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the most affected areas, further complicating efforts to contain the spread of cholera. in.

Experts predict that Sudan will continue to face the risks of cholera outbreaks and other epidemic diseases if urgent measures are not taken to improve health systems and basic facilities.

Sheldon Yate points to the need to invest in health, water and sanitation systems to address these crises, especially as floods are expected to lead to further spread of cholera among vulnerable children and families .

The deteriorating nutritional situation also leaves children at greater risk of contracting infectious diseases such as cholera.

Due to the ongoing conflict and the collapse of infrastructure, extensive international cooperation is needed to improve the health and food situation in Sudan, according to health care experts.

Due to these difficult conditions, international organizations say that Sudan needs coordinated efforts from the international community and humanitarian organizations to control the outbreak of cholera and other epidemic diseases.

With environmental and humanitarian crises expected to continue, investment in health infrastructure and vaccination campaigns is a critical step to protect children and families from the threat of these deadly diseases.