Sudan is facing its deadliest cholera outbreak in years, claiming at least 40 lives over the past week, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported. Overwhelmed medical centres are treating patients on mattresses on the floor as the ongoing civil war accelerates the disease’s spread.
Sylvain Penicaud, MSF project coordinator in Tawila, said families in displacement camps often drink contaminated water, the primary driver of cholera. “Two weeks ago, a body was found in a camp well, and people were soon forced to reuse that water,” he said.
Sudan first confirmed the cholera outbreak a year ago, with more than 99,700 suspected cases and over 2,470 deaths recorded nationwide. Heavy rains worsen the crisis by contaminating water sources and overwhelming fragile sewage systems, public health officials warned.
MSF teams in Tawila treated over 2,300 cholera patients last month, exceeding the capacity of a 130-bed hospital that was accommodating 400 patients. Since April, 380,000 people have arrived in Tawila fleeing conflict near El Fasher and Zamzam camp, straining already scarce resources.
Residents survive on an average of three litres of water daily, far below the WHO emergency minimum of 7.5 litres. Water shortages make basic hygiene impossible, including washing food and dishes. Cholera treatment centres across Darfur are overwhelmed, MSF said.
“The health centres are full,” said Samia Dahab from Otash camp, describing scarce, distant, and often unsafe water sources for residents. Tuna Turkmen, MSF’s head of mission, warned the outbreak is “beyond urgent,” now spreading well beyond displacement camps across multiple Darfur localities.
In neighbouring Chad, 16 deaths and 288 suspected cholera cases were reported in the second week of August, reflecting regional vulnerability. MSF called for an international response to provide healthcare, improve water systems, and launch vaccination campaigns commensurate with the urgent scale of the crisis.
