In a report published on Wednesday, UNICEF highlighted the growing threat of cholera in the war -hired country with more than 7,700 cases and 185 affiliated deaths reported in Khartoum State alone since January 2025. Alarmingly over 1,000 cases affected children under five years.
Since the beginning of the conflict in April 2023, three million people have been forced to flee their homes, displaced internally and across the region.
Returning to homes without water
While improved access to parts of Khartoum State has enabled more than 34,000 people to return since January, many people return to homes that have been severely damaged and lack access to basic water and sanitary services.
The latest attacks on power infrastructure in the Khartoum state have worsened the crisis, disturbed water supply and forced families to collect water from uncertain, contaminated sources.
This increases the risk of cholera significantly, especially in densely populated areas, such as shear camps.
UNICEF has implemented a multi-shaped approach to the crisis, including distribution of household treatment chemicals, provided over 1.6 million oral cholera vaccines that supply cholera treatment kits and more.
“Every day, more children are exposed to this double threat of cholera and malnutrition, but both can be prevented and treated if we can reach children in time,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative of Sudan.
Malaria and new prevention efforts
Also on Wednesday, UNICEF also launched a partnership with the Sudanese Government Ministry of Health and the global fund to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to distribute nearly 15.6 million insecticide -treated bed signs to prevent the spread of malaria among vulnerable families throughout Sudan along with 500,000 additional networks to antenate and immunization facilities.
The campaign aims to protect 28 million Sudanese in 14 states.
As with cholera, continuous conflict and displacement have created conditions that are conducive to the spread of malaria. Covered and unsanitarian living conditions combined with the nearby rainy season pose a serious health risk to millions, especially those returning to damaged societies.
In addition, the initiative is aimed at strengthening the availability of anti-malarial medicine, rapid diagnostic tests and investments in strengthening health care.
Critical Medical Supplies When West Darfur
In a more positive development, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that El Geneina Hospital in West Darfur has received eight tonnes of medical supplies for nutrition, non-infectious diseases and mental health.
The delivery, supported by the World Bank’s Africa, the Equity Project and the European Union, is expected to maintain the hospital’s operations for six months, giving important support to one of the regions most severely affected by the several escalating crises.
