Sudan faces a severe cholera outbreak and a worsening refugee crisis as conflict, flooding, and inadequate healthcare facilities push the nation into deeper turmoil. According to Sudan Tribune, over 43,000 cholera cases have been recorded since the outbreak began in August, alongside more than 1,100 deaths. Floodwaters and overcrowded displacement camps have fueled the rapid spread of the disease, particularly in River Nile and Kassala states.
River Nile state has reported over 7,200 cases and 134 deaths, while Kassala has seen more than 8,000 infections and 240 fatalities. Authorities have launched vector control campaigns and set up isolation centers, but ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the healthcare system. Many hospitals remain non-functional, leaving displaced populations highly vulnerable to disease.
The war has displaced over 11 million people, forcing many to seek refuge in neighboring countries like Uganda. Among them is 39-year-old Mahassin Mohammed Ibrahim, who fled El Fasher, North Darfur, after being severely injured in an attack by RSF fighters. She recounted her ordeal, explaining how her family escaped on a donkey cart and crossed into Uganda via South Sudan. Now living in Uganda’s Kiryandongo refugee settlement, Ibrahim is one of nearly 120,000 individuals who have fled Sudan this year alone.
Uganda, which hosts Africa’s largest refugee population at nearly 1.7 million people, provides unique support to refugees, including land access, education, and vocational training. However, limited resources and decreasing international aid have stretched services thin. Bruno Rotival, overseeing humanitarian programs in Uganda, noted that while €36 million in EU aid has been allocated for 2024, competing global crises pose challenges to maintaining support for refugees and host communities.
Despite these challenges, Uganda continues to offer humanitarian assistance, with EU-supported programs delivering food, healthcare, and education to both refugees and local populations. Schools and medical facilities in settlements like Kiryandongo are shared between displaced people and host communities, fostering integration despite strained resources.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan and the resulting humanitarian crisis underscore the urgent need for global attention and sustained aid to support those affected by war, disease, and displacement.
