Floods and Armed Conflict Exacerbate Cholera Epidemic in Sudan – Global Issues
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 26 (IPS) – Sudan has been engulfed in a deadly cholera outbreak amid the Sudanese Civil War. Sudan is currently home to around 15 million people, most of whom have had to struggle with conflict between warring factions, widespread food insecurity, mass migration and extreme weather conditions. Floods, in particular, have been particularly dangerous, leading to the collapse of critical infrastructure that ensures sanitation. This has caused Cholera fever to become a matter of concern for the whole country.
On August 12, Sudan’s Ministry of Health officially declared a cholera outbreak. This is the second outbreak of cholera in Sudan since the war began sixteen months ago.
Between July 22 and September 15, there have been approximately 8,457 cases of infection. Sudan’s Ministry of Health reports that about 430 people died of cholera last month alone, underscoring the rising rate of infection.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the regions of Sudan that manage shelters are the most affected by this outbreak.
Significant overcrowding and exposure to contaminated water due to flooding have exacerbated the spread of disease.
“The latest outbreak of cholera has re-emerged after several weeks of heavy rains and floods that caused flooding. The risks are compounded by ongoing conflicts and dire humanitarian conditions, including overcrowding in camps and gathering places for refugees and Sudanese displaced by the war”, said UNHCR Sudan Representative, Kristine Hambrouck.
Despite these efforts, there have been significant challenges in accessing medical and aid workers. The persistence of fighting in cholera-affected regions has raised security concerns and severely hampered critical aid delivery routes.
The medical organization, Doctors Without Borders, informed journalists that their current efforts “are constantly blocked by both warring parties, the humanitarian response remains far below what is needed”. They add that armed conflict has led to the collapse of health systems in Sudan, with pregnant women and children dying at a rapid rate.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) adds that armed conflict has severely hampered vaccination efforts. Research shows that before the Sudanese Civil War, about 85 percent of the population was immunized, dropping to 50 percent after the war. Areas immersed in the middle conflict are about 30 percent immune.
In addition, according to the World Food Program (WFP) Country Director, Eddie Rowe, due to heavy rain and flooding, it has been very difficult for aid trucks to pass through the Tina crossing on the border with Chad, which is a direct route. to reach Darfur, one of the most vulnerable regions in Sudan.
The United Nations (UN) is currently on the front lines in the most affected areas, providing life-saving health care and essential resources to reduce the spread. UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) are distributing rehydration packs and rehydration tablets to prevent the spread of cholera through drinking water.
UNHCR has set up treatment centers in Kassala to provide Sudanese with effective treatment and isolation of highly contagious patients. In addition, they train health care workers, track the spread of disease, and conduct workshops and awareness campaigns to educate Sudanese citizens about safe hygiene practices.
UNHCR estimates that approximately 1.5 billion dollars will be needed to provide assistance to Sudan and neighboring countries facing similar humanitarian crises. Currently, only 22 percent of that goal has been achieved. The UN is appealing for more donor contributions as infection rates and civilian deaths rise.
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