By KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan’s Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim announced Sunday that a cholera outbreak has killed at least 22 people and infected 354 others across the country, adding to the nation’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The outbreak comes as Sudan grapples with a 16-month-long conflict and recent devastating floods, further straining its already battered health care system.
While the health minister did not specify a timeframe for these deaths and infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 78 cholera-related deaths and over 2,400 cases in Sudan between January 1 and July 28 this year.
Tarik Jašarević, a WHO spokesman, told The Associated Press that the outbreak began in the eastern province of Kassala before spreading to nine localities in five provinces. He noted that data showed most detected cases were unvaccinated, prompting WHO to work with Sudanese health authorities on implementing a vaccination campaign.
Cholera, a highly contagious infection transmitted through contaminated food or water, can cause severe dehydration and death within hours if left untreated, according to WHO.
The outbreak exacerbates Sudan’s already dire humanitarian situation. Fighting between the military and a powerful paramilitary group since April 2022 has turned urban areas into battlefields, damaging civilian infrastructure and the health care system.
The International Organization for Migration reports that over 10.7 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began, with more than 2 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Recent seasonal floods have killed dozens and displaced about 118,000 people in 12 of Sudan’s 18 provinces, according to U.N. figures. The conflict has pushed many into starvation, with famine confirmed in a camp for displaced people in the Darfur region.
Sudan has a history of cholera outbreaks, with a previous major incident in 2017 resulting in at least 700 deaths and about 22,000 infections in less than two months.
As the health crisis unfolds, diplomatic efforts continue. Sudan’s military-controlled sovereign council announced plans to send a government delegation to meet with American officials in Cairo. The meeting aims to discuss the implementation of a deal requiring paramilitary groups to withdraw from civilian areas.
Meanwhile, peace talks continue in Switzerland, involving diplomats from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the African Union, and the United Nations. The talks, which began on August 14, aim to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
