Hunger and disease are tightening their grip on war-torn Sudan, with famine stalking several regions and cholera surging across fragile communities.
The World Health Organisation reported on Friday that 25 million people face acute food insecurity and nearly 100,000 cholera cases have been recorded since last July.
Sudan’s brutal conflict between the General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army and the rival Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions, splitting the country into fractured zones of control.
“Relentless violence has pushed Sudan’s health system to the edge, adding to a crisis marked by hunger, illness and despair,” said WHO Senior Emergency Officer Ilham Nour.
She warned that malnutrition is worsening the disease burden, with about 770,000 children under five expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year.
The crisis has spilled beyond Sudan’s borders, with cholera striking a refugee camp in eastern Chad sheltering people from Darfur.
The UN refugee agency said the outbreak in the Dougui settlement has caused 264 cases and 12 deaths, forcing a halt to the relocation of refugees from the Sudanese border.
“Without urgent action, including access to treatment, clean water, sanitation, and relocation from the border, many more lives are on the line,” said Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR’s situation coordinator in the region.
As famine deepens and cholera spreads, Sudan’s humanitarian catastrophe is accelerating, threatening to consume millions unless decisive intervention comes swiftly.
