Severe Cholera Outbreak Hits Khartoum

A severe outbreak of cholera has struck Khartoum, claiming numerous lives and exacerbating the city’s dire humanitarian situation.

According to the health ministry, the number of fatalities has risen significantly, with 70 lives lost in a mere 48 hours.

The ministry reported a substantial increase in new cases, with 942 infections and 25 fatalities recorded on Wednesday, following a staggering 1,177 cases and 45 deaths the previous day.

This alarming surge in infections has been linked to the recent disruption of essential services, including water and electricity, which were crippled by drone strikes attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The city has been embroiled in a brutal conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF for over two years, leaving its health and sanitation infrastructure on the brink of collapse.

The army-backed government recently announced that it had regained control of the capital from the RSF, but the city remains severely damaged.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres, announced that cholera vaccination efforts have commenced in Jebel Awila, the district most affected by the outbreak.

The World Health Organization has also delivered a significant shipment of emergency health supplies to support local response efforts.

However, the true extent of the outbreak remains uncertain due to discrepancies in official data, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA. Eatizaz Yousif, Sudan director for the International Rescue Committee, warned that the country is teetering on the edge of a catastrophic public health disaster, citing the destructive combination of conflict, displacement, and limited access to clean water.