Geneva: A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm over a spiraling health emergency in Sudan, where conflict between rival military factions continues to wreak havoc. The organization is urging swift international support to prevent a catastrophic deterioration of public health conditions.
According to the UN health agency, Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which began in April 2023, has displaced 14.5 million people — the largest displacement crisis globally. Of those, 10.5 million remain displaced within Sudan, while another four million have sought refuge in neighboring nations including Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
The conflict has decimated Sudan’s infrastructure and health systems, fostering the rapid spread of infectious diseases such as cholera and measles. Living conditions in both urban conflict zones and refugee camps remain dire, with WHO warning of a high risk of disease outbreaks.
At a UN briefing in New York, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described the growing humanitarian emergency. He revealed that cholera cases in Khartoum state have surged by 80 percent in just two weeks, amid ongoing shelling and intensified fighting.
Dujarric emphasized the urgent need for flexible and increased funding, as well as unrestricted access to deliver aid. “Humanitarian actors must be allowed to reach all those in need,” he said.
The impact of the crisis is being felt far beyond Sudan’s borders. Egypt has absorbed approximately 1.5 million Sudanese refugees. Although the country has expanded healthcare services, refugees still face high medical costs under Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance system. WHO is working alongside local authorities to bolster healthcare for vulnerable communities.
In Chad, the situation is particularly bleak. Over 726,000 Sudanese have arrived in four eastern provinces already grappling with existing humanitarian challenges. The country is now dealing with outbreaks of malaria, measles, hepatitis E, and widespread malnutrition. This year alone, there have been over 657,000 malaria cases and 314 related deaths.
South Sudan has also felt the strain, hosting more than 1.5 million displaced individuals, including 352,000 from Sudan. The fragile health system in the host country has come under attack, severely undermining efforts to manage the crisis. Cholera and hunger remain pressing concerns, with 7.7 million people experiencing acute food insecurity and over 54,000 cholera cases resulting in more than 1,000 deaths since September.
Despite major challenges and a growing funding shortfall, WHO and partner organizations continue delivering critical aid. This includes the operation of 136 nutrition stabilization centers, the provision of medical supplies, establishment of cholera treatment facilities, and support for reconstructing damaged health services.
WHO is appealing for sustained international engagement to stem the collapse of Sudan’s health sector and prevent an even deeper humanitarian catastrophe.
