Cholera Outbreak Surges in Kosti Amid Ongoing Conflict in Sudan

Over 400 cases of cholera have emerged in Kosti, Sudan, attributed to water shortages following a drone attack on power infrastructure. The cholera crisis persists amid a civil war, which has severely impacted healthcare. The government is responding with medical personnel and treatment resources while the region faces intense violence and displacement.

Sudanese health authorities have reported over 400 cases of cholera in Kosti, following a drone strike that disrupted essential power and water supplies. The health ministry in the White Nile state highlights that the increase in cholera cases results from the drainage of water stemming from ongoing power outages.

The humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire amid a civil war between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has caused extreme displacements and fatalities. The ongoing conflict has led to acute shortages of resources, propelling the choleral epidemic further.

Since the drone attack on the Um Dabakar power station, which provides Kosti’s electricity, residents have lost access to clean water. The International Committee of the Red Cross has raised alarms regarding a troubling trend of strikes on crucial civilian infrastructure, leaving millions in precarious situations.

The cholera outbreak follows a previous epidemic declaration by the government in 2022, reporting over 24,000 cases and nearly 700 deaths by October. Cholera can result in severe dehydration and is potentially lethal without treatment, although it is manageable with proper rehydration therapies and antibiotics.

In response to the current outbreak, the health ministry has mobilized 100 medical professionals and distributed over 6,000 intravenous solutions. However, with 80% of health facilities incapacitated due to conflict, the healthcare response is significantly hindered.

Amidst these cholera outbreak reports, violent conflicts reportedly resulted in more than 200 deaths in nearby villages. The army-backed government’s toll reached 433, and the UN migration agency noted over 6,500 families displaced due to RSF offensives in the region.

The cholera outbreak in Kosti, exacerbated by disrupted water supplies from a drone strike, highlights the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan. With ongoing violence, a significant healthcare system breakdown, and past cholera epidemics, urgent response measures are critical. The deployment of medical personnel and resources is a step forward, but sustaining health facilities remains a challenge amid the conflict.

Original Source: newscentral.africa