The cholera outbreak in Sudan has reached alarming levels, as over a year and a half of conflict has led to the collapse of the healthcare system and mass displacement.
According to UNICEF and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 33 million people, including six million children under five are now at risk.
The spread of the disease is fueled by dire sanitary conditions: limited access to clean water, destroyed infrastructure, and health facilities that are either closed or looted. Cases have already been reported in Chad and South Sudan, signaling a potential regional spillover.
Since July 2024, over 83,000 cases and 2,121 deaths have been recorded across nearly all regions of Sudan. In 2025 alone, 32,000 suspected cases have resulted in 742 deaths. Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have reported 11,500 cases and 165 deaths, while refugee sites in neighboring countries have registered 278 cases and 15 deaths.
The worst-hit areas are North Darfur and Kordofan, where violence has rendered access to healthcare nearly impossible. These regions have seen 4,400 suspected cases and 236 deaths.
With the rainy season approaching, heightening the risk of flooding and water contamination, UN agencies warn that the situation could spiral into an uncontrollable health crisis. In Khartoum, where 75% of medical facilities are out of service, response capacity is almost non-existent.
To address the emergency, three million doses of oral cholera vaccine have been delivered, 1.3 million of which have already been administered.
An additional 3 million doses are expected to be deployed in the most vulnerable states.
Meanwhile, 2.5 million people have gained access to safer water sources since the start of the year.
Yet these efforts remain fragile. Humanitarian organizations are calling for $50 million in funding to continue operations through the end of 2025.
Beyond the frontlines, cholera has become a silent reflection of Sudan’s collapse, a crisis where the invisible toll of disease adds to the casualties of war.
TE/lb/gik/APA