More than 100,000 cholera infections have been reported in Sudan over the past year, the United Nations said Monday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned the country faces the world’s largest hunger crisis alongside rampant cholera.
“Famine has been confirmed in some areas, and we cannot stand by while the people of Sudan desperately need help,” it said. Since August 2024, the Sudanese Health Ministry reports at least 2,561 deaths linked to the cholera outbreak, highlighting a growing humanitarian disaster.
The crisis unfolds amid an ongoing war between General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces, killing more than 20,000 people since April 2023. The conflict has displaced 14 million residents, leaving millions more vulnerable to disease and hunger, according to UN and local authorities.
US university research suggests the death toll may be far higher, estimating approximately 130,000 casualties, including civilians caught in the crossfire. Humanitarian agencies warn that without urgent international support, both famine and disease will continue to ravage Sudanese communities.
The cholera outbreak, one of the largest in recent years, underscores the intersection of conflict, displacement, and public health collapse. Aid groups urge swift action to prevent further deaths, calling for medical supplies, clean water, and food assistance across the country.
Sudan’s fragile health system struggles to respond, leaving hospitals overwhelmed and communities at severe risk of disease spread. The United Nations stresses global solidarity, warning that delayed response could turn the crisis into a catastrophic, prolonged humanitarian emergency.
