At least 70 people have died over the last 48 hours as a cholera outbreak intensifies in Sudan’s White Nile State, the country’s health ministry has reported.
The ministry confirmed that more than 2,200 individuals have been infected so far, with the majority of cases concentrated in the city of Kosti, where recent interruptions to water supply have worsened the health crisis.
UN agencies have linked the outbreak to a drone strike on the Um Dabakir power station, which cut off access to clean water for many residents. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have raised alarms about the rapid escalation of the epidemic and the urgent need for aid.
Compounding the crisis, over 80 percent of Sudan’s hospitals remain non-functional due to ongoing civil conflict that erupted in April 2023, leaving millions without essential healthcare services.
Humanitarian organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières are striving to provide medical support and rehabilitate water treatment facilities despite limited resources.
UNICEF has expressed particular concern for children in the region, warning that more than 292,000 are at risk of contracting cholera in White Nile State.
Efforts including vaccination drives and emergency assistance are ongoing, but the persistent conflict continues to hinder effective response and containment of the outbreak.
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