According to Doctors Without Borders, people in Sudan are now experiencing the worst cholera outbreak the country has seen in years. 99,700 suspected cases and more than 2,470 related deaths, as of 11 August. The shortage of clean and potable water is acute. Two weeks ago, a human body was removed from a well in a refugee camp, according to Doctors Without Borders. Two days later, people were drinking the water again.
KHARTOUM AUGUST 15: Sudan’s worst cholera outbreak in years — spreading in a country ravaged by conflict. Health and aid workers are battling desperately to stop it from escalating and crossing into neighbouring countries. What’s driving the outbreak – and how serious is it?
According to the charitable organization Doctors Without Borders, people in Sudan are now experiencing the worst cholera outbreak the country has seen in years. First declared by the Ministry of Health one year ago, there has since been 99,700 suspected cases and more than 2,470 related deaths, as of 11 August. In Darfur region alone, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams treated over 2,300 patients and recorded 40 deaths in the past week for cholera, at facilities run by the Ministry of Health.
Across Darfur, cholera is hitting people who already struggled with water shortages that made it impossible to follow essential hygiene measures, such as washing dishes and food. Two weeks ago, a human body was removed from a well in a refugee camp in Sudan, according to Doctors Without Borders. Two days later, people were drinking the water again.
The situation is most extreme in Tawila, North Darfur state, where 380,000 people have fled to escape ongoing fighting around the city of El Fasher.
