A cholera outbreak at a camp for Sudanese refugees in Chad has claimed 68 lives since late July, authorities reported. The Dougui camp, one of several hosting Sudanese fleeing civil war, has recorded 1,016 infections as of August 26, the ministry said.
Chad shelters over 850,000 Sudanese displaced by fighting between General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023. Crowded conditions, scarce clean water, and limited healthcare have fuelled the rapid spread of the waterborne disease, the UN warned Monday.
Cholera, a severe intestinal infection, spreads through contaminated food and water and can kill within hours if untreated. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, though the disease is treatable with oral rehydration or antibiotics in serious cases.
The outbreak in Chad mirrors a broader crisis in Sudan, where more than 2,400 cholera deaths have been reported this year, according to Doctors Without Borders. Health officials are urgently calling for water, sanitation, and medical support to stem the outbreak and protect vulnerable refugees.
As temperatures rise and resources remain scarce, aid agencies fear the epidemic could worsen, threatening thousands of lives in the camps. Authorities emphasise the critical need for hygiene awareness and rapid treatment to prevent further fatalities among the displaced population.
