Sudan’s cholera outbreak has infected more than 113,600 people and claimed over 3,000 lives since July 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Tuesday, September 23.
The country’s case fatality ratio now stands at 2.7%, with Darfur identified as the epicenter of the crisis. According to WHO deputy representative Hala Khudari, Darfur alone has recorded nearly 12,800 cases and 358 deaths, with North Darfur’s Tawila locality—home to over half a million displaced people—accounting for 61% of infections in the region.
A vaccination campaign launched on Sunday seeks to immunize 1.86 million people across six high-risk localities in South, East, and North Darfur. Khudari stressed that vaccines, though vital, must be complemented by robust surveillance, treatment services, access to clean water, and community mobilization. The ongoing civil war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has exacerbated the crisis, hampering aid delivery and crippling health services. WHO warned that without peace, sustaining an effective cholera response and protecting vulnerable populations will remain an immense challenge.