Cholera Outbreak in Southern Sudan Claims Lives Amidst Ongoing Conflict

A cholera outbreak in southern Sudan has killed at least 70 people and infected over 2,200 in one week, primarily in Kosti following a drone strike that hindered clean water access. The conflict has severely impacted the healthcare system, with UNICEF reporting thousands of affected children and highlighting critical infrastructure damage amid a humanitarian crisis. Immediate solutions are needed to control the outbreak and support the vulnerable populations.

In southern Sudan, a cholera outbreak has resulted in the deaths of at least 70 individuals and has infected over 2,200 others within the past week, according to Save the Children, which referenced data from the health ministry. The outbreak has been primarily centered in Kosti, the capital of White Nile state, following a drone strike that disrupted clean water access at the Um Dabakar power station, located 275 kilometers south of Khartoum.

Sudan’s healthcare system, severely impacted by a protracted civil war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, is struggling to cope with this crisis. Save the Children noted that approximately 400 new cholera cases are being reported daily in Kosti. The health ministry also indicated that over 55,000 cholera cases and more than 1,400 deaths have been documented since the outbreak commenced in August of the previous year.

The United Nations agency for children, UNICEF, reported around 2,700 cholera cases in White Nile from January 1 to February 25, highlighting a concerning situation for hundreds of children affected. Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative to Sudan, emphasized the dire implications of the ongoing conflict, stating, “The continued destruction of critical humanitarian infrastructure has left no child safe in this war.” He warned that without access to clean water and sanitation, the cholera outbreak will persist.

As the conflict in Sudan continues, initiated in April 2023, approximately 80 percent of hospitals are reported to be non-operational, and those remaining face severe shortages of medical supplies. This decline in health infrastructure exacerbates the population’s already vulnerable situation amidst ongoing humanitarian crises.

The cholera outbreak in southern Sudan has resulted in significant fatalities and widespread illness amidst a deteriorating healthcare system. With clean water access disrupted and critical medical facilities under strain, the humanitarian crisis is deepening. Urgent action is required to provide necessary resources and support to combat the cholera outbreak and ensure the protection of vulnerable populations, especially children. Governments and humanitarian organizations must prioritize addressing both the outbreak and the broader implications of the ongoing conflict to restore healthcare access and improve sanitation conditions.

Original Source: www.newarab.com