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Chaotic Sudan Battles With Cholera Outbreak
A spike in cholera cases has been recorded by the UN and Sudanese authorities, following weeks of intense rains that have pounded sections of the country and forced thousands of people from their homes.
The disease, which is mostly waterborne and can cause fatal dehydration in a matter of hours if left untreated, has become more prevalent due to rain and flooding. Declaring an outbreak on Monday, the health ministry later reported 556 instances of cholera, including 27 deaths; the majority of these cases were in Kassala state, home of Wad al-Hulaywah.
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The ministry stated that nearby Gedaref state has also been severely affected. As of June 2023, Sudan has had at least 11,327 cases of cholera, 316 of which have been fatal, according to the World Health Organization. Haitham Ibrahim, Sudan’s Minister of Health, stated that “climatic conditions and water contamination” were behind the epidemic.
In Wad al-Hulaywah alone, “we’ve counted 150 cases so far, among them seven dead” since late July, local health official Adam Ali revealed.
CONTAMINATED WATER
Approximately 40% of Sudanese people lacked access to potable water, according to UN estimates before the start of the conflict between the country’s army and paramilitary groups.
Since then, things have become worse. “Drinking water is our problem,” stated Ali. He claimed that the majority of people in Wad al-Hulaywah “drink water straight from the river—polluted water.”
The health official continued, “The Setit river, which starts in neighboring Ethiopia, receives large amounts of silt washed into it during the rainy season, increasing pollution levels.”
Insecticide is sprayed by personnel close to the nearby hospital to combat the fly population growth, which Ali claimed was an indication of inadequate sanitation.
“Entire communities” had been uprooted due to dam building on the Setit River in 2015, he claimed, and the locals “dug temporary latrines, which attract flies because they are not maintained”.
In regions controlled by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces or army, which are both fighting for control of the country, access to potable water has been restricted. In addition to fighting and bureaucratic obstacles impeding humanitarian efforts and forcing the closure of important water sources, the paramilitaries have besieged entire regions, prohibiting the entry of gasoline required to pump clean water.
Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict, more than 10 million have been displaced, and more than 70% of Sudan’s medical facilities have been closed, according to the UN.
Allegations of war crimes against the opposing forces include attacking civilians and stealing or impeding humanitarian aid. Many in Sudan believe they are on their own because of what the UN has dubbed “one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory” and the inability of relief organizations to assist.
Gentle Reminder: Be careful how you use your authority and influence, be wise, and treat others with respect.
Chychy Jonas
