A cholera epidemic broke out in Sudan at a time when torrential rains have been hitting the country for many weeks, which at the same time has been torn apart by a civil war for 16 months.

“We are declaring a cholera epidemic due to the weather conditions and the contamination of the drinking water” said the Minister of Health Haitham Ibrahim in a video message of his.

The decision to declare the country in epidemic situation was taken “in coordination with Kasala State health services, UN agencies and experts” after the cholera virus was identified by public health laboratories.

The epidemic strikes mainly the States of Kassala and Gedarefin eastern Sudan. The minister did not specify how many cases have been recorded.

Due to the rains that have continued unabated for weeks, thousands of people have left their homes and sought shelter elsewhere. Poor sanitation has led to an increase in cases of diarrhoea, especially among young children.

In Kasala State, the authorities asked the international community to provide them with “urgent” help.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by a bacillus that can lead to severe dehydration and death within hours. From January 1 to July 28 this year, 307,433 cases and 2,326 deaths were recorded in 26 countries around the world, according to the World Health Organization.

A war has been raging in Sudan since April 2023 between the army, led by general and de facto leader of the country Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of general Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The two sides accuse each other of war crimes, looting and obstruction of humanitarian aid, as well as nearly destroying the country’s already weakened health system.