Sudan Grapples with Cholera Outbreak Amid War and Water Crisis

Sudan Grapples with Cholera Outbreak Amid War and Water Crisis
Sudan Grapples with Cholera Outbreak Amid War and Water Crisis

Cholera Outbreak Hits War-Torn Sudan, Killing at Least 22

Sudan is grappling with a new cholera outbreak, with more than 350 cases recorded in recent weeks, according to health authorities. The outbreak has already claimed at least 22 lives, adding to the country’s ongoing struggles in the wake of a conflict that broke out between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April last year.

The conflict has taken a toll on the country’s already under-resourced healthcare system, with Abu Bakr Mohamed, a doctor at Kassala Teaching Hospital, stating that the hospital does not have the capacity to accept many cases. “The hospital here does not have the capacity to accept many cases,” Mohamed said.

The current outbreak is linked to contaminated drinking water and an unclean environment, with a large number of flies helping to spread the disease, according to Ali Adam, the acting Minister of Health of Kassala State. “As of today, the number of cases has reached more than 300, including 22 deaths,” Adam said.

This is not the first time Sudan has faced a cholera outbreak. In 2017, an outbreak of the disease killed at least 700 people in less than two months. The current outbreak is the latest crisis to hit the country, where many residents are also struggling with food insecurity. More than half of the population is facing hunger, adding to the country’s already dire humanitarian situation.

The outbreak highlights the need for urgent action to improve the country’s healthcare system and provide clean water and sanitation facilities to vulnerable communities. The international community must also step in to provide support to Sudan, which is facing a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.

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