Cholera epidemic declared in Sudan

Thousands of people have been displaced by floods, causing an increase in sickness, especially in children

A man disinfects a rural isolation centre where patients are being treated for cholera in Kassala state, eastern Sudan. AFP

A cholera epidemic has been declared in Sudan after weeks of heavy rain, the country’s Health Minister Haitham Ibrahim said in a video released on Saturday.

The decision was made in conjunction with authorities in Kassala state, UN agencies and experts after the cholera virus was detected.

“We are declaring a cholera epidemic because of the weather and because drinking water has been contaminated,” Mr Ibrahim said.

The country has endured a war that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese army, under Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy Gen Mohamed Dagalo.

The conflict had led to a major humanitarian crisis, with more than 25 million people facing acute hunger. Famine has been declared in a displacement camp in the vast western region of Darfur.

Peace talks have continued in Switzerland this week although the Sudanese Armed Forces maintained its boycott of the process.

The International Organisation for Migration said a week ago that Sudan was at “a catastrophic breaking point” caused by famine and flooding.

For weeks, the country has been under torrential rainfall, with Kassala state badly hit.

Authorities there have appealed for urgent international aid.

Thousands of people have been displaced by flooding, causing an increase in sickness including diarrhoea, especially in children.

Cholera causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle cramps, and generally arises from eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium.

It can cause severe dehydration, leading in some cases to death within a few hours.

The World Health Organisation said 307,433 cases of cholera and 2,326 deaths have been reported in 26 countries up to July 28.

Sudan's war has greatly impeded the work of international humanitarian organisations.

More than 10 million people have been displaced by the fighting.

Ceasefire talks resumed on Wednesday in Geneva, hosted by US, Saudi and Swiss mediators. Previous negotiations in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia failed to produce an agreement.