Cholera deaths surge in Khartoum as health services collapse, doctors say
May 30, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Cholera deaths in Sudan’s Khartoum state have surged to 1,540 in three days amid a near-total collapse of medical services, the preliminary committee of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate said on Friday, as health authorities announced the arrival of millions of vaccine doses.
Doctors fear a widespread cholera outbreak could lead to a catastrophic health situation, with up to 80% of healthcare facilities in conflict zones and approximately 45% in other areas having ceased operations.
Sayed Mohamed Abdullah, a spokesperson for the doctors’ syndicate committee, told Sudan Tribune that cholera fatalities in Omdurman and Khartoum had risen to 1,540 within three days.
He reported an increase in cholera cases in Nyala, South Darfur state, to 91, including 10 deaths, with 26 cases currently in an isolation centre.
“The committee today monitored 100 cholera cases, including 15 deaths, at Al-Rahad Hospital in North Kordofan state, alongside increasing cases in El Fasher and the Kassab camp for displaced people, in addition to a widening spread of cases in Ed Daein in East Darfur and El Geneina in West Darfur state,” Abdullah added.
Separately on Friday, acting Federal Health Minister Esmat Mustafa announced the receipt of 2,905,400 doses of cholera vaccine. He said this was part of efforts to combat the epidemic, which is particularly affecting Khartoum state and the Al-Rahad locality in North Kordofan.
In a press circular, the health minister explained that the vaccine was a grant from the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG), with support from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, through the integrated technical efforts of the Federal Technical Committee for Cholera Epidemic Response, under the direct supervision of the Federal Minister of Health.
Mustafa confirmed the completion of all logistical arrangements for transporting the vaccine shipments to Khartoum state. He anticipated the implementation of an extensive vaccination campaign in the coming days, targeting all citizens aged one year and above.
The Federal Ministry of Health has urged all citizens in the target age group to visit the nearest vaccination centre, receive the vaccine, and adhere to other health guidelines to limit the spread of the epidemic and protect communities.
Last Tuesday, the Ministry of Health began an oral cholera vaccination campaign in southern Khartoum, comprising 115,000 doses, which is expected to expand to three million doses this week.
The new wave of cholera in Omdurman, Khartoum state, began after residents resorted to using unsafe water due to the shutdown of water stations. The stations stopped working after a drone attack by the Rapid Support Forces on power stations, resulting in a power outage.