UNICEF/Omar Tarig. Sudanese children are learning about the dangers and symptoms of cholera.
The deadly cholera outbreak continues to spread in Sudan, but ongoing conflict is hampering the country's cholera response, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said today.
According to WHO and the Ministry of Health, the number of suspected cholera cases in the country has more than doubled in the past month, and as of 23 December, nearly 8 300 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in nine states across Sudan, including more than 200 deaths.
Displacement has exacerbated the spread of the epidemic
In Jezira State, at least 300,000 people have been displaced as a result of heavy clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) this month, and more than 1,800 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in the state.
Humanitarian workers have been working to support cholera testing and treatment, as well as vaccination campaigns, but ongoing conflict continues to hamper responses and disrupt access to essential public health services, OCHA said.
Access to health care is difficult
Since the outbreak of the conflict in mid-April this year, about two-thirds of Sudan's population has now been without access to health care, and more than 70 per cent of health-care facilities in conflict-affected areas have been shut down. To date, WHO has verified 60 attacks on health facilities, forcing the cutting off of much-needed medical care.
In addition, the identification of cholera cases is challenged by the difficulty of transporting cholera samples to Sudan's only functioning public health laboratory due to restricted access to conflict-affected areas.
