Sudan's Triple Crisis: Cholera Outbreak, War, and Floods

Cholera Outbreak in Sudan

• At least 22 people have died and 354 confirmed cases detected recently.
• WHO reports 78 deaths and over 2,400 cases from January to July 2024.
• Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim declared a cholera epidemic in Sudan.
• Outbreak linked to contaminated drinking water and weather conditions.
• Cholera: Cholera is a fast-developing, highly contagious infection causing severe diarrhea.
• Can lead to death within hours if untreated, particularly dangerous for children under five.
• Previous major outbreak in 2017 killed 700 and sickened 22,000 in less than two months.

Ongoing Civil War and Its Impact

• Conflict between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023.
• War has lasted 16 months, causing widespread devastation.
• Over 10.7 million people internally displaced.
• Estimated 14,000 people killed.
• Healthcare system severely damaged, many hospitals and medical facilities closed.
• Reports of atrocities, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings.
• Famine confirmed in Zamzam camp in North Darfur.
• Aid agencies accuse both sides of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Devastating Floods

• Recent seasonal floods have compounded the crisis.
• Dozens killed and critical infrastructure destroyed in 12 of Sudan's 18 provinces.
• About 118,000 people displaced due to floods, according to UN migration agency.
• Floods have worsened the already dire humanitarian situation.

International Response and Peace Efforts

• New round of peace talks began in Switzerland, despite army's absence.
• US, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, African Union, Egypt, UAE, and UN involved in negotiations.
• Sudan's military-controlled sovereign council to send delegation to meet US officials in Cairo.
• Talks aim to implement deal requiring RSF to withdraw from civilian areas.
• WHO working with Sudanese health authorities to implement cholera vaccination campaign.