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New cholera outbreak alert for Sudan’s war-weary communities
In war-torn Sudan, a deadly new cholera outbreak has already claimed more than 100 lives, heightening serious concerns for vulnerable communities including in besieged El-Obeid, where daily drone attacks reportedly continue to hamper aid access.
“Cholera is back and it’s affecting several states, mainly in the western part of the country, the Darfurs and the Kordofans,” said Dr Shible Sahbani, UN World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Sudan.
Briefing journalists in Geneva, the official reported more than 1,330 confirmed cases and 114 deaths from the disease, which is preventable but can be deadly if not treated quickly.
The true number of fatalities is likely much higher and aid agencies are deeply concerned that the disease will spread among the hundreds of thousands of people who’ve fled towns and rural areas in North Kordofan.
The Sudanese state located in the centre of the country is the epicentre of fighting between former allies the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The cholera case fatality rate is already “extremely high” at 13.7 per cent and it is expected to worsen when the upcoming rainy season sets in, Dr Sahbani explained.
Sudan is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with more than 33 million people in need; this includes 21 million who require health services. Since war erupted on 15 April 2023, at least 59,000 people have been killed.
Although some people have returned to states “where the situation is improving”, Dr Sahbani stressed that 13.4 million remain displaced; nine million within Sudan and 4.6 million in neighbouring countries. In addition to cholera, existing disease outbreaks include dengue, malaria, meningitis, hepatitis E and measles.
“We are particularly concerned about the spread [of cholera] to El-Obeid in North Kordofan, where the access is very limited and where the fragile health system is under increasing strain,” the WHO representative said. “Health facilities are overwhelmed there and access to care is very, very limited.”
Dr Sahbani echoed recent appeals from UN human rights chief Volker Türk to the international community to prevent further atrocities in El-Obeid and a repeat of mass killings in El Fasher when RSF forces entered the city last October.
“We call for our partners and donors to help us to be able first to access and second to be able to send enough supplies and enough facilities in El-Obeid. But we know that the situation there is very, very bad and it's worsening with higher risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, violence, including violence against women and children.”
ends
Sudan cholera alert – WHO
TRT: 2 min 12s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 10 JULY 2026 GENEVA
Speakers:
- Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan (from Tripoli, Libya)
SHOTLIST
- Exterior, UN Geneva flag alley.
- Wide, Press room podium speakers.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan (from Tripoli, Libya): “Cholera is back and it's affecting several states, mainly in the western part of the country, the Darfurs and the Kordofans, where the access is very limited.”
- Wide, Press room, screens, control booths.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan (from Tripoli, Libya): “We've recorded more than 1,330 cases with 114 deaths related to cholera. This gives us a case fatality rate of 13.7 per cent, which is extremely high. And of course, the rainy season is expected to worsen the situation.”
- Medium-wide, Press room podium speakers.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan (from Tripoli, Libya): “We are particularly concerned about the spread to El-Obeid in North Kordofan, where the access is very limited and where the fragile health system is under increasing strain. Health facilities are overwhelmed there and access to care is very, very limited.”
- Wide, Press room, screens.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan (from Tripoli, Libya):
- “We call for our partners and donors to help us to be able first to access and second to be able to send enough supplies and enough facilities in El-Obeid. But we know that the situation there is very, very bad and it's worsening with higher risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, violence, including violence against women and children.”
- Medium-wide, podium speakers.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative to Sudan (from Tripoli, Libya): “Beyond cholera, in a way, we are deeply concerned about the broader humanitarian needs and growing protection risks, as you know; and this is echoing what unfolded in El Fasher last year, unfortunately.”
- Medium, participants.
- Medium, podium speaker, laptop.
- Medium, participants.
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