NORTH DARFUR – The Sudan Doctors Network has reported a devastating cholera outbreak in Tawila locality, North Darfur State, with 1,331 confirmed cases recorded in just seven days. The surge in infections comes amid a collapsing healthcare system, limited access to clean water, and severely deteriorating humanitarian conditions driven by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
In a statement issued yesterday, the medical network warned that the rapid spread of cholera in Tawila serves as “a stark indicator of the fragility of the health system, the lack sanitation services, and the limited access to clean water due to the ongoing war.” the situation is further exacerbated by the absence of public health awareness in affected communities, the Network said.
Health infrastructure across Darfur has been decimated by more than two years of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving civilians exposed to preventable diseases such as cholera. Humanitarian access to affected areas has also been severely restricted, further hampering response efforts.
The Sudan Doctors Network has urged immediate intervention from both national and international actors. “We warn of a worsening health crisis if urgent action is not taken by federal health authorities and humanitarian organizations,” the statement read. The Network called on the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) to “urgently provide medical supplies” and bolster the capacity of frontline workers.
Specifically, the group is appealing for support to rapid response teams tasked with containing the outbreak and treating those infected. “Support rapid response teams with the necessary resources to treat cases, contain the epidemic, and establish immediate humanitarian corridors,” the Network said.
The Network has also issued a broader plea to the international community, urging global stakeholders to assume their “moral and humanitarian responsibilities” toward the people of Darfur. The statement called for urgent logistical and medical assistance to curb the outbreak before it spirals further out of control.
Cholera, a bacterial infection typically spread through contaminated water or food, can cause severe dehydration and death if left untreated. The disease thrives in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water, conditions that are now widespread across Sudan due to the war.
“The Sudan Doctors Network affirms its full commitment to closely monitoring the health situation,” the group added, “and to providing all possible technical and field support, in coordination with the relevant authorities, to save lives and limit the spread of the epidemic.”
With no end in sight to the conflict and limited resources available for humanitarian agencies operating in Sudan, public health experts warn that outbreaks like this one may continue to escalate without a significant international response.
