Cholera in Sudan
Ongoing massive displacement fuels a cholera crisis
Cholera is preventable and treatable, yet in Sudan, ongoing conflict, continuous displacement, and a fragile health system have made this life-threatening disease a grave danger to children and their families.
The war that broke out in April 2023 has devastated essential systems. Sudan’s health infrastructure is on the verge of collapse, with immunization services that once protected children and families from life threatening diseases greatly interrupted. Millions of displaced people now live in overcrowded camps, schools, and temporary shelters in the few relatively stable states. Meanwhile, access to clean water and sanitation facilities remains a significant challenge.
In many communities hosting displaced families, water supplies are strained, while in conflict hotspots, essential water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed. These unsanitary conditions increase the risks of hygiene-related illnesses, such as cholera.
The trends
A cholera outbreak was declared in Sudan in August 2024. By early January 2025, over than 50,000 cases had been confirmed across 11 states, resulting in more than 1,350 associated deaths.
In Kassala, where many displaced families have sought refuge, cases had been decreasing until October 2024, when an influx of families from East Al Jazirah caused a new surge in infections.
What is Cholera?
Cholera is an intestinal infection that can kill within hours if untreated, with children under five in conflict-affected areas being particularly vulnerable.
Caused by bacteria found in unsafe or contaminated water and food, cholera is most common in communities with limited access to clean and safe water, sanitation facilities, and good hygiene practices.
The disease is characterized by acute watery diarrhoea, which can lead to severe dehydration. Malnourished and displaced children are especially at high risk due to weakened immunity.
Stories from the ground
In December 2024, UNICEF found that more than half of new cases were among new internally displaced persons arriving from East Al Jazirah, a cholera hotspot.
In Arab six camp in Halfa locality, Kassala state, over 20,000 displaced children and families from East Al Jazirah have sought refuge. A cholera treatment centre (CTC) has been set up to provide timely treatment for suspected cases, with health workers tirelessly providing care.
Three-year-old Fatuma, suffering from acute diarrhoea for four days, lies on a bed outside one of the blue tents. Her mother Nada, stays by her side holding her hand tightly, learning hygiene practices that can prevent cholera- washing hands, using clean and safe water, and seeking early treatment, all critical to protecting one from cholera.
“Her condition has slightly improved. When we came, she could not even open her eyes,” Nada said. Fatuma.
Nada is not the only one at risk. Many displaced parents and caregivers recount consuming potentially contaminated water and food as they fled the war, with their children suffering from diarrhoea, a common symptom of cholera.
By mid-January, River Atbara, Halfa and Kassala localities remained cholera hotspots.
In UNICEF-supported Alkarama health clinic, an oral rehydration point (ORP) has been established. Four-year-old Watin, suffering from diarrhoea and a cough, sips oral rehydration solution. She was also given sachets of ORS to take home.
Saving lives together: how UNICEF and the communities are battling cholera
Stopping the cholera outbreak in Kassala requires a united and collective effort. With the challenges of continued displacement and a fragile health system, UNICEF and its partners have activated high-impact response initiatives to save lives and curb the spread of the disease.
To address the surge in cholera cases, UNICEF is establishing oral rehydration points (ORPs) close to affected communities, particularly in hotspots like IDP gathering sites and camps. These ORPs are vital first-response hubs, providing life-saving oral rehydration solutions (ORS)—a simple mixture of water, glucose, sodium, and potassium that can quickly reverse dehydration in cholera patients.
Community volunteers are playing a critical role, moving from house to house to educate families on hand hygiene and proper sanitation practices. Their efforts are focused on IDP camps with new arrivals and cholera-affected localities. Volunteers also demonstrate how families can prepare homemade oral rehydration salts using clean water, sugar, and salt as an immediate measure before seeking professional care.
UNICEF is working closely with the World Health Organization to strengthen cholera treatment centres by supplying kits for cholera and acute watery diarrhea, essential medicines like zinc and ORS, and protective gear for health workers. Additionally, health workers are being trained in effective case management, infection prevention, and community-based surveillance to ensure timely identification and treatment of cases.
Ensuring access to clean and safe water remains a cornerstone of UNICEF’s response. The organization is increasing water access for IDPs and cholera-affected communities by chlorinating water points, providing purification chemicals, and monitoring water quality across Kassala.
Vaccination efforts are also underway, with UNICEF delivering vaccines and supporting cholera vaccination drives in hotspots to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further outbreaks.
Through these combined efforts, UNICEF is not only treating cholera but also empowering communities to prevent it, offering hope and resilience in the face of Sudan's ongoing crisis.
“We can’t do this alone,” says one health worker at the Alkarama health clinic. “It’s not just about treating cholera—it’s about empowering families to prevent it.”
