Sudan’s Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that hundreds of cholera cases have been recorded in Khartoum State over the past month, with the weekly average reaching 600 to 700 cases. The announcement, reported by Anadolu Agency, highlights the growing public health crisis in areas recently affected by armed conflict.
Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim attributed the rise in cholera cases to deteriorating environmental conditions and poor access to clean water following the return of displaced residents. These returns followed the Sudanese army’s recent recapture of parts of Khartoum State, including Jabal Awliya and Al Salha. The minister called the rise in cases an “expected outcome” of the population’s return to unsanitary conditions.
Earlier this week, the Sudanese army declared it had cleared Khartoum State of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters after retaking Al Salha, RSF’s last stronghold in Omdurman. The army’s operations in the area have shifted control of central Sudan, including Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman, back under government authority.
Despite the alarming number of cases, officials expect the infection rate to decline as cholera vaccination campaigns are launched. The Federal Health Emergency Room continues monitoring efforts and has implemented measures to prevent further spread of the disease, the health minister said.
The Sudan Doctors Network issued an urgent call on Friday to address the worsening health situation, reporting that 9 people died and 521 new cholera cases were admitted to Omdurman’s Al-Naw Teaching Hospital in a single day. The network has warned of growing strain on the already limited health infrastructure. According to official data released on May 6, the total number of cholera cases in Sudan has reached 60,993, with 1,632 deaths.
Sudanese authorities declared a national cholera epidemic in August last year. Since April 2023, Sudan has been mired in conflict between the army and the RSF, resulting in over 20,000 deaths and the displacement of 15 million people, according to the UN and local officials. Independent research from U.S. institutions suggests the death toll could be significantly higher, possibly exceeding 130,000.
