UNICEF on Saturday announced the arrival of 1.4 million oral cholera vaccine doses at a port in eastern Sudan.
This shipment aims to protect children from a cholera outbreak that has affected 10 of the country’s 18 states since July, resulting in over 18,000 cases and 550 deaths.
The new vaccines supplement 404,000 doses delivered last month, supporting immunization campaigns targeting 1.81 million people in the most affected areas.
“Delivery of the vaccines … is essential for stopping the spread of these deadly diseases,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative to Sudan.
An estimated 3.4 million children under age 5 are at high risk of epidemic diseases in Sudan, with 3.1 million people at risk of cholera by December.
The country’s health care system is struggling, with national vaccination coverage dropping from 85% to 50% and over 70% of hospitals in conflict areas non-operational.
Sudan has been plagued by fighting between Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, resulting in at least 12,260 deaths and 33,000 injuries.
The rainy season has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, exposing the population, particularly those displaced, to further displacement, contagious diseases, and the threat of heavy rainfall and flooding.
The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen in Sudan as nearly 6.8 million people have fled their homes. Despite several cease-fire agreements brokered by Saudi Arabia and the US, the violence persists.