Sudan reports cholera outbreak among returnees from South Sudan

June 29, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan has recorded 189 cases of cholera in three states among thousands of its citizens returning from neighbouring South Sudan, the health ministry said on Sunday.

The outbreak affects a wave of 67,000 Sudanese who have returned to the country’s south between early April and June 22, fleeing insecurity and a lack of services and aid in South Sudan.

In a statement, the ministry said the cases were recorded in the White Nile, Blue Nile, and Sennar states. It noted a particular rise in cases within returnee reception centres in Blue Nile, while Sennar is the most affected state overall.

The government has activated emergency rooms and supplied intravenous fluids to the affected regions in anticipation of more cases, said Montaser Mohamed Osman, the ministry’s Director of Health Emergencies and Epidemic Control.

Osman added that Sudan was coordinating with South Sudan’s health ministry to manage the outbreak, establishing an isolation centre at the Joda border crossing to screen arrivals and treat suspected cases.

The influx of returnees adds to the humanitarian strain in Sudan. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced on June 21 that it was developing a contingency plan for a potential influx of 148,000 more refugees from South Sudan.