Over Three Million Children at Heighted Risk of Cholera and other Deadly Diseases in Sudan

PORT SUDAN, 17 September 2024 – The second round of the oral cholera vaccination campaign started in Kassala yesterday to prevent the further spread of the deadly disease.

An outbreak of cholera was officially declared on 12 August 2024 by Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health after a new wave of cholera cases was reported beginning on 22 July 2024.  Between 22 July and 15 September, 8,457 cases and 299 deaths were reported across eight states in Sudan.

“We are racing against time. With heavy rains and flooding, diseases can spread more rapidly and severely worsen the outlook for the children in the affected states and beyond,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Sudan.

Sudan is grappling with multiple disease outbreaks including cholera, malaria, dengue fever, measles, and rubella. An estimated 3.4 million children under five are at high risk of epidemic diseases. The crises stem from significant declines in vaccination rates and the destruction of health, water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure as a result of the ongoing conflict. The deteriorating nutritional status of many children in Sudan puts children at even greater risk.

UNICEF is implementing a multisectoral response in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and WHO to control the cholera outbreak in the affected states and to curb the spread of the disease. On 9 September 2024, UNICEF delivered 404,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine to Sudan to respond to the outbreak. The cholera vaccination campaign, running from 16 to 21 September, will cover Kassala. Subsequent campaigns will be rolled out in other affected states.

UNICEF has also supported the establishment of oral rehydration centres and the distribution of tablets for home-based water treatment, and has mobilized critical water, hygiene, sanitation and health supplies, services, and expertise throughout the affected states. To date, more than 1.9 million people have been supported with water chlorination of water sources. UNICEF engages communities through selected media and dialogues, door-to-door visits, and key messaging on the causes, symptoms, and prevention of cholera.

“We must take decisive action to tackle the outbreak as well as invest in the health and WASH systems underpinning the essential services vulnerable children and families in Sudan so desperately need,” added Mr Yett.

#####

Notes to editors:

An estimated 15 million people in Sudan live in the 14 states at high risk of flooding and 3.1 million people, including 500,000 children under the age of five, are at risk of cholera between July and December 2024. Estimates also indicate that 3.4 million children under five are at high risk of epidemic diseases, including measles, malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and cholera.

National vaccination coverage in Sudan has plummeted from 85 per cent before the war to approximately 50 per cent. In active conflict zones the rates are averaging at 30 per cent. The delivery of vaccine supplies and routine immunization activities have been hindered by security concerns and lack of access.

More 70 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-operational and frontline workers including nurses and doctors have not been paid in months.