UN reports sharp drop in Sudan cholera cases despite ongoing violence

September 28, 2026 (UNITED NATIONS) – Aid agencies in Sudan have driven a sharp decline in cholera cases through extensive vaccination and treatment efforts, even as intensifying drone strikes and ground clashes threaten relief operations, the United Nations said on Monday.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that frontline humanitarian teams continue to distribute lifesaving aid, prevent disease transmission, and treat infected patients across affected regions despite escalating fighting.

The World Health Organization (WHO) prepositioned 60 metric tonnes of cholera kits and emergency medical supplies across Sudan, enough to manage roughly 120,000 cases, while training frontline personnel and bolstering specialized treatment centres and oral rehydration points.

A joint oral cholera vaccination drive conducted by WHO and the UN children’s agency UNICEF reached more than 900,000 people in high-risk areas.

The outbreak began in May in Al Nuhud in West Kordofan state before spreading across 20 localities in six states, claiming about 250 lives and infecting nearly 3,000 people, according to UN monitoring data.

Alongside emergency health interventions, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) started a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign targeting 9.8 million animals to protect the livelihoods of 1.2 million pastoralist households.

Dujarric warned that below-average cumulative rainfall during the current rainy season threatens domestic food security, increasing pressure on aid agencies to scale up agricultural support as harvest prospects worsen.

The UN renewed demands for warring parties to protect civilians and critical civilian infrastructure, urging unhindered humanitarian access to allow aid workers to reach populations in need across all conflict corridors.