As a close neighbor to Sudan, Kenya watches with grave concern as the humanitarian crisis escalates, most recently with a fast-spreading cholera outbreak. This disease, often dubbed a “disease of poverty,” thrives in conditions where clean water and sanitation are scarce – a grim reality for many Sudanese caught in a two-year-old civil war. The impact of this health emergency extends beyond Sudan’s borders, reminding us of our shared vulnerabilities and the urgent need for regional stability and support. size=2 width=”100%” align=center data-sourcepos=”6:1-6:3″>
The Alarming Numbers
The statistics are sobering. Over the past week alone, 172 people have died from cholera, and more than 2,500 have fallen ill. The daily reported cases surged from 90 to 815 between May 15th and 25th, indicating a rapid acceleration of the outbreak. Since the beginning of the year, over 7,700 people have been diagnosed with cholera, including more than 1,000 children under the age of four. While most cases are concentrated in the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city Omdurman, the disease has also been detected in five surrounding provinces. size=2 width=”100%” align=center data-sourcepos=”11:1-11:3″>
The War’s Devastating Impact
The current cholera surge is a direct consequence of the ongoing civil war. Khartoum and Omdurman, once densely populated, became battlegrounds, pushing out residents. Now, with some areas being recaptured, approximately 34,000 people have returned to a city wrecked by months of fighting. Many find their homes damaged, and access to basic necessities like clean water is a monumental challenge. Attacks on power plants have disrupted electricity, exacerbating water shortages, and vital sanitation systems are in ruins. This forces people to rely on polluted water and unhygienic containers, creating a breeding ground for the cholera bacterium.
Health workers on the ground face overwhelming conditions. Treatment centers are stretched to their limits, and many patients arrive too late to be saved. The true scale of the outbreak remains unknown, as teams can only reach a fraction of those affected. The situation is further complicated by the fact that over 80% of hospitals are out of service, and those still operational grapple with severe shortages of water, electricity, and medication. The fear is that the outbreak could spread even more rapidly, especially with many displaced people crowded into temporary shelters, making isolation difficult.
