World Health Organization: 100,000 cholera cases and famine threaten millions in Sudan

The World Health Organization revealed that nearly 100,000 cholera cases have been recorded in Sudan since July 2024, at a time when the repercussions of the raging war have plunged the country into catastrophic health and food crises, amid warnings of an unprecedented worsening of humanitarian conditions.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organization's director-general, stated at a press conference held on Thursday in Geneva that "the ongoing violence in Sudan has caused famine, diseases, and immense suffering," emphasizing that the cholera outbreak has affected all states in the country without exception.

Tedros noted that vaccination efforts against cholera are underway in several states, including the capital Khartoum, but the scale of the crisis is worsening amid the deterioration of medical infrastructure and difficulty accessing affected areas.

According to the organization, the recent floods that hit vast areas of Sudan herald further epidemics, as they are expected to lead to new outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dengue fever, and other infectious diseases, especially in areas lacking basic services.

In another aspect of the humanitarian collapse, Tedros spoke about reports from the city of El Fasher in North Darfur, which has been besieged for months, indicating that residents are resorting to eating animal feed in a bid to survive, amid increasing food insecurity across the country.

According to the organization's estimates, about 770,000 children under the age of five are threatened with acute malnutrition this year, amid an unprecedented food crisis affecting millions of Sudanese.

It is noted that cholera is an acute intestinal infection transmitted through water or food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria, causing severe diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, and can lead to death within hours if the infected person is not treated immediately.

Since 2021, the world has witnessed a concerning increase in cholera spread, with Sudan currently being one of the most prominent outbreak hotspots.

The roots of the crisis in Sudan date back to the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the armed forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of millions both inside and outside the country.

In light of this multifaceted disaster, international organizations continue to issue urgent appeals for help, in an attempt to save what can be saved of civilian lives in the stricken Sudan.