The World Health Organization says at least 120 people have died in a fresh cholera outbreak in Sudan, with more than 1,100 suspected infections recorded since May in conflict-affected areas.
According to the UN health agency, the resurgence comes as the country’s prolonged civil war continues to cripple healthcare services and restrict humanitarian access.
WHO Representative in Sudan, Dr Shible Sahbani, said the latest outbreak marks the country’s third cholera wave in three years.
“Sudan is now facing almost continuous cholera outbreaks due to the conflict, constraints in access and limited supplies,” Sahbani said during a media briefing on Wednesday.
He explained that while cholera had previously occurred in roughly three-year cycles, the ongoing conflict has created conditions that allow the disease to spread more frequently.
The latest outbreak was officially declared by the Sudanese government in West Kordofan State, a region divided between areas controlled by the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Health authorities are also monitoring a growing number of suspected cases in neighbouring North Kordofan, where nearly 300 infections and three deaths have already been reported.
The WHO warned that the situation could deteriorate further as Sudan enters its rainy season, a period that often accelerates the spread of waterborne diseases due to flooding, poor sanitation and limited access to safe drinking water.
“Forty percent of health facilities are non-functional, while the remaining 60 percent are only partially functioning and unable to provide adequate services to patients,” Sahbani said.
The conflict, which has lasted for more than three years, has severely damaged Sudan’s health infrastructure, forcing many hospitals to shut down completely or operate with minimal services.
The United Nations has also raised concerns over continued drone attacks on critical infrastructure, including power stations, warning that disruptions to electricity and water supplies could worsen the humanitarian crisis and increase the risk of disease outbreaks.
Government figures show that between July 2024 and March 2026, Sudan recorded more than 124,000 cholera cases and about 3,500 deaths during the previous outbreak.
Aid agencies estimate that the ongoing conflict has claimed more than 200,000 lives while leaving millions of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
