SUDAN — A deadly cholera outbreak has swept across Sudan, killing more than 170 people and infecting over 2,500 in just one week, according to health officials. The outbreak, which began in mid-May 2025, is concentrated in Khartoum and Omdurman but has also spread to North Kordofan, Sennar, White Nile, and Nile River states.
The country’s ability to respond has been crippled by a civil war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023. According to authorities, nearly 80% of hospitals are non-operational, lacking water, electricity, or basic supplies. The destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure has only worsened the situation, fueling the spread of the waterborne disease.
In Khartoum State alone, over 7,700 cases have been reported since January, including more than 1,000 children under five. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are working alongside Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health, but ongoing hostilities and resource shortages continue to hinder containment efforts.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has set up treatment centers in affected areas, such as Omdurman and White Nile State. However, these facilities are overwhelmed. Many patients arrive too late to receive effective care, health workers say.
A cholera vaccination campaign is underway, but a global vaccine shortage has limited its reach. As a result, humanitarian organizations are urging increased international support to prevent further loss of life.
The cholera outbreak is just one facet of Sudan’s broader humanitarian crisis. More than 14 million people have been displaced by the conflict, with food insecurity and disease threatening vulnerable populations. Recent attacks on aid convoys have further disrupted critical supply chains.
According to GhanaWeb, corpses floating in the Nile River and decaying in city streets underscore the scale of the tragedy and the urgent need for global response.
