GHealth News – Sudan is facing a sharp rise in cholera cases amid ongoing war, with 2,700 infections and 172 deaths reported in just the past week, according to the Ministry of Health. Khartoum state accounts for 90% of these cases, as drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have crippled water and power infrastructure.
The RSF recently targeted power stations in Khartoum, disabling electricity and halting clean water supply, which has forced residents to rely on unsafe sources. The medical group Doctors Without Borders warned that water treatment facilities can no longer operate without power.
Cholera, endemic in Sudan, has worsened dramatically since the war began in April 2023, with outbreaks now more frequent and deadly due to the collapse of water, sanitation, and health systems. Last week, officials had reported 51 deaths out of 2,300 cases over three weeks-again, mostly in Khartoum.
The war has devastated Sudan’s healthcare system, with the World Health Organization saying it’s near collapse. Up to 90% of hospitals have shut down at some point, with many looted or bombed. Now in its third year, the conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced 13 million people, creating the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.