SUDAN – The United Nations (UN) has warned that a growing cholera outbreak, widespread displacement due to floods, and severe shortages of humanitarian aid are driving a worsening crisis across Sudan.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the onset of the rainy season has further complicated the already dire conditions, as humanitarian partners on the ground struggle to meet rising needs. “Challenges are mounting as the rainy season advances,” OCHA stated, adding that local and international partners are facing significant operational strain.
In North Darfur, the town of Tawila has recorded more than 1,300 confirmed cholera cases in just one week, amid severe shortages of medical supplies and an overwhelmed local health system. Tawila currently hosts thousands of internally displaced persons, many of whom fled deadly attacks on famine-stricken Zamzam Camp near El Fasher in mid-April, the UN News platform reported on July 21.
Meanwhile, the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur revealed a sharp rise in cholera cases, with over 595 new infections recorded within the last three days alone. The group noted that many parts of Darfur are witnessing similar outbreaks under “harsh humanitarian conditions,” with displaced populations facing acute shortages of food, medicine, and clean water.
Although cholera treatment centers have been established by both local and international humanitarian organizations, OCHA cautioned that current resources are far from adequate. “There is an urgent need for additional resources,” OCHA emphasized, including more treatment centers, mobile clinics, ambulances, and waste management tools to help contain the outbreak.
In eastern Sudan, more than 1,400 people have been displaced following heavy rains and flash floods in Kassala State, which destroyed over 280 homes. The damage comes amid UN meteorological forecasts predicting higher-than-average rainfall for several States between June and September, while other areas may experience below-average levels.
OCHA stressed that these environmental shocks, compounded by conflict and limited humanitarian access, threaten to deepen Sudan’s already precarious situation.
Adding to the complexity for the crisis, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 200,000 Sudanese have returned to the country so far in 2025. Since November last year, more than 1.3 million people have returned to their areas of origin. However, OCHA warned that returnees face severe challenges, especially due to the risk of unexploded ordnance in former conflict zones. In many cases, families are forced to flee back to displacement sites, undermining the sustainability of return efforts.
The United Nations and humanitarian organization continue to call for urgent international support to respond to Sudan’s growing humanitarian catastrophe. Without a rapid and coordinated response, aid workers fear a further collapse in basic services and a surge in preventable deaths.
