A deadly outbreak believed to be linked to chemical weapons has swept through Khartoum and the surrounding areas, as thousands of civilians are affected by toxic gas exposure. Reports indicate that General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) has used chemical gases in various parts of the country, with the latest incident in the city of Omdurman, where bodies of the deceased and suffering patients have been found scattered in the streets and near hospitals.
Medical sources reported that thousands of patients are lying in the streets, overwhelmed by the absence of necessary medical supplies like intravenous fluids and emergency medications. Many healthcare workers have fled the hospitals due to the ongoing crisis. Khartoum has become uninhabitable due to severe contamination of the water and air by these harmful substances.
The number of reported cases exceeds official estimates by over tenfold, with over 5,000 patients alone in Omdurman, and the situation continues to worsen. Hospitals and isolation centers are overwhelmed, with patients filling the roads near hospitals. Authorities have urged healthcare workers not to discuss the outbreak, nor the growing number of patients in hospitals, as they aim to downplay the crisis.
Amid chaos and SAF control in Port Sudan, volunteer cameras have captured scenes of death and despair in Sudanese cities, particularly in Omdurman. Corpses line the streets as patients with no access to life-saving medications crowd the roads.
Reportedly, SAF prevented the truth from surfacing, silencing any attempt to describe the outbreak as a result of chemical weapon use or a gas depot explosion.
Experts have warned that the effects of mustard gas could persist for over five years, causing long-term harm to humans, animals, and the environment. Exposure to mustard gas can cause severe skin burns, blindness, and respiratory failure.
The gas’s effects extend beyond immediate health crises, contributing to genetic mutations, infertility, and cancer.
The Origins of the Crisis
On May 20, 2025, residents of Omdurman witnessed a massive fire, later confirmed to have been sparked at the University of Khartoum’s Faculty of Education. The blaze reportedly originated from a chemical weapons storage depot associated with the Barah ibn Malik Battalion, an armed group allied with the SAF.
The fire occurred hours after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Sudan for its use of chemical weapons.
Local sources confirmed that the toxic smoke continued to emit from the university site, where the chemical weapons depot was located. The Barah ibn Malik Battalion prevented citizens from approaching the site to assess the damage.
Efforts to address the mounting humanitarian crisis have been slow, with international calls for intervention. Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has been in contact with regional and international health and humanitarian organizations, alerting them to the dire situation.
In a Facebook post, Hamdok appealed for urgent support, noting the widespread cholera and other epidemics sweeping through Khartoum, which are claiming hundreds of lives daily amidst a completely collapsed healthcare system.
He urged international humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to prevent further loss of life and to mitigate the health disaster unfolding in Sudan.
A Toxic Legacy
Mustard gas, a chemical warfare agent, was first used in World War I and has since been deployed in multiple conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq War, leaving over 100,000 victims. It can be dispersed through artillery shells, airstrikes, missiles, or aircraft sprays, leading to widespread casualties.
Sudan is now facing one of the most severe public health crises in its history, with the use of chemical weapons creating a toxic environment that continues to claim lives. The international community must urgently intervene to provide aid and hold those responsible for this humanitarian catastrophe accountable.
