Cholera Outbreak in Sudan Claims 172 Lives Amid Humanitarian Crisis

A cholera outbreak in Sudan has killed 172 people and sickened over 2,500 in the past week. The disease is spreading in Khartoum and Omdurman as many returning residents find unclean water. The ongoing civil war has destroyed infrastructure, complicating efforts to control the outbreak and address humanitarian needs.

CAIRO — Sudan is now grappling with a severe cholera outbreak that has claimed 172 lives and left over 2,500 others ill in just the last week. The outbreak is mainly concentrated in the capital city, Khartoum, and its twin city, Omdurman. The disease is spreading rapidly as many Sudanese return to their homes after fleeing the ongoing conflict only to find limited access to clean water, a primary factor contributing to the cholera infection rates. The persistent civil war has effectively devastated much of the nation’s health and sanitation systems.

The situation has escalated quickly, with the Health Ministry reporting a shocking increase in daily cholera cases from just 90 to 815 within a ten-day span in May. This alarming uptick has caught the attention of various humanitarian organizations. UNICEF reported that since the beginning of the year, more than 7,700 cases of cholera have been confirmed, with over 1,000 of those cases involving children under the age of four. Khartoum and Omdurman remain the epicenter of the outbreak, though officials identified cholera cases in five additional provinces as well.

The intensity of the outbreak has overwhelmed treatment centers operated by Doctors Without Borders in Omdurman. Joyce Bakker, the organization’s Sudan coordinator, described the dire conditions, stating, “Many patients are arriving too late to be saved. We do not know the true scale of the outbreak, and our teams can only see a fraction of the full picture.” The escalating crisis underlines the importance of rapid, adequate response efforts, which are currently lacking.

The civil war that erupted in April 2023 has devastated Sudanese cities, especially Khartoum and Omdurman, blueprints of historical urban life now heavily scarred by conflict. Since the military retook control of the capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in March, approximately 34,000 residents have attempted to return to their homes despite facing severe infrastructure destruction. Access to clean water has plummeted, in part due to damage sustained by power plants. Residents resort to using contaminated sources, thereby exacerbating the spread of cholera.

Dr. Rania Elsayegh, affiliated with Sudan’s Doctors for Human Rights, emphasized the lack of proper sanitation: “People have been drinking polluted water and transferring water into unhygienic containers.” Additionally, with health systems crumbling and over 80% of hospitals non-functional, health workers are exceedingly concerned that the cholera outbreak will escalate further. Dr. Sayed Mohamed Abdullah of the Sudan’s Doctors Union noted the drastic shortages of basic needs like water, electricity, and medication in the few operating hospitals.

Cholera, described by the World Health Organization as a “disease of poverty,” spreads primarily where sanitation is poor and clean water is scarce. Originating from the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, it can present mild symptoms but can be fatal within hours without treatment. Treatment options exist, primarily rehydration solutions and antibiotics, yet as the WHO’s global oral cholera vaccine stockpiles dwindle below the critical threshold of five million doses, the world is facing an increasing challenge to prevent such outbreaks.

The chaos from the ongoing civil war not only fuels cholera but breeds a plethora of other health crises. The conflict that emerged last April has claimed at least 24,000 lives, displaced over 14 million, and left entire regions in suffering and famine. The United Nations and other groups have categorized the conflict and its accompanying atrocities, including mass killings and sexual violence, as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Seasonal flooding has further worsened conditions, resulting in the destruction of vital infrastructure.

Cholera is not new to Sudan; previous outbreaks in 2017 saw the deaths of at least 700 individuals and affected roughly 22,000 within a short time frame. Recent years have seen recurrent outbreaks, with several other diseases like dengue fever and meningitis posing additional threats, as highlighted by the Health Ministry’s recent reports.

In summary, Sudan’s cholera outbreak is increasing in severity, resulting in numerous fatalities amid a humanitarian crisis driven by ongoing civil war. With the infrastructure devastated, residents are struggling to find clean water, and health facilities are overwhelmed. The situation remains dire with fears of further spread, compounded by the effects of other infectious diseases. Immediate and effective action is urgently needed to address not only the cholera outbreak but also the underlying issues of humanitarian distress in the country.

Original Source: www.newsday.com