Cholera Outbreak in Sudan Claims Hundreds of Lives Amid Civil War

The cholera outbreak in war-torn Sudan has claimed the lives of at least 388 people in the past two months. According to health officials, nearly 13,000 people have contracted the disease. This comes as there is no sign of a decrease in the year-and-a-half-long conflict between the army and a rival militia group. Cholera is particularly spreading in eastern Sudan, where millions of war refugees have taken shelter and have recently experienced heavy rainfall and flooding. The Sudanese Ministry of Health reports that the disease has been observed in ten out of the country's 18 provinces, with the highest cases recorded in the eastern provinces of Kassala and Al-Qadarif. The cholera outbreak in Sudan is not unprecedented; seven years ago, a widespread outbreak affected nearly 22,000 people within two months and resulted in over 700 deaths. Cholera is a highly infectious disease that causes diarrhea and rapid loss of body fluids, and according to the World Health Organization, if not treated quickly, it can lead to death within hours. The disease is transmitted through contaminated water and food. Sudan became embroiled in war and chaos in May 2023 following escalating tensions between the army and a powerful militia group known as the Rapid Support Forces. These clashes have led to the destruction of Khartoum, the capital, and have witnessed violence including mass rape and ethnic killings, which the United Nations and human rights groups have classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to the United Nations, these conflicts have resulted in at least 20,000 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries, although activists and human rights groups claim the actual numbers are much higher. This civil war has also caused the largest and most widespread refugee crisis in the world, with over 13 million people forced to flee their homes since the war began. Nearly 2.5 million of these refugees have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Seasonal devastating floods and now the cholera outbreak have compounded the suffering of Sudanese people. The Sudanese Ministry of Health reports that flooding has resulted in at least 225 deaths and injured 900 others. According to this agency, critical infrastructure in flood-affected areas has been destroyed, and more than 76,000 homes have been demolished or damaged. The occurrence of famine in the Zamzam refugee camp located fifteen kilometers from Al-Fasher, the center of North Darfur, has also added to the woes of Sudanese people. According to experts from the International Famine Committee, nearly 26 million people, or more than half of Sudan's population, will face severe hunger this year. Despite all these miseries, the war in Al-Fasher continues. The Rapid Support Forces militia has been attempting to seize this last major city in Darfur, which remains under army control, since the beginning of this year, about nine months ago. Last week, this militia group and its allies launched another attack on the city. The army claims that with the help of local rebel forces, it has been able to repel the attack and eliminate hundreds of members of the Rapid Support Forces, including two of their senior commanders.