Cholera and displacement surge across Sudan amid deep aid shortfall, UN says
September 1, 2026 (UNITED NATIONS) – Persistent insecurity and an escalating cholera outbreak are compounding Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, the United Nations warned on Tuesday, as severe funding shortages hamper relief operations across the war-torn country.
Speaking during a press briefing, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said active conflict continues to force families to flee, noting that about 730 people escaped several villages in South Kordofan state on Sunday alone.
The displacements coincide with a deteriorating public health emergency. According to the World Health Organization, more than 2,600 cholera cases were recorded across multiple states by early August, with the broader Kordofan region serving as the epicentre of the latest outbreak.
To contain the spread, Sudanese health authorities launched targeted oral cholera vaccination campaigns this week in Darfur and West Kordofan states, with technical and logistical support from the WHO and the UN children’s agency (UNICEF).
The vaccination drive aims to protect nearly 928,000 people aged 1 and older, according to a WHO statement. The drive includes reactive campaigns across three localities in West Kordofan, El Nuhud, Wad Banda, and Al Fula, as well as pre-emptive drives in Kas and Tawila in the Darfur region.
Beyond vaccination and clinical treatment, relief agencies are expanding access to safe drinking water to halt virus transmission. In South Kordofan, a municipal water system rehabilitated with UNICEF support in Abu Jubayhah is now providing clean water to 25,000 residents daily, including 5,000 displaced people.
Between January and July, aid agencies reached 12.3 million people across Sudan with at least one form of life-saving assistance.
However, Dujarric pointed out that only 2.2 million people, roughly 18 per cent of those assisted, received multi-sectoral support, highlighting how funding constraints prevent aid workers from delivering comprehensive relief where needs are greatest.
The United Nations renewed its call for all warring factions to adhere to international humanitarian law by protecting civilians, safeguarding relief and health personnel, and guaranteeing the safe, rapid, and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid.
Dujarric also urged international donors to ramp up financial contributions, noting that the $2.9 billion humanitarian appeal for Sudan is only 41 per cent funded, with approximately $1.2 billion received so far this year.