Deaths and Hundreds of Infections in Sudan Due to River Water
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) announced that around 24 people have died due to a disease transmitted through contaminated water, with over 800 others hospitalized in White Nile, southern Sudan.
The organization suggested that the river water in the area is the primary cause of the cholera outbreak. Local residents have been using the river as their main water source, as dozens of families were seen transporting river water in tanks pulled by donkeys. This situation arose after a drone attack on the Um Dabakir power station in southern Khartoum caused a power outage, disrupting access to drinking water in Kosti, White Nile State.
Dr. Francis Layo Okan, the medical reference for Médecins Sans Frontières, revealed that the cholera treatment center is overwhelmed with patients suffering from severe diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting at alarming levels, warning that the situation is on the verge of spiraling out of control.
In response to the outbreak, Sudanese authorities have banned the collection of water from the river, called for increased chlorine doses in the water distribution system, and shut down most local restaurants as a precautionary measure.
Sudan has been in turmoil since April 2023 due to the ongoing war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, and a severe humanitarian crisis.
In January, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned of the increasing attacks on civilian infrastructure, including power stations, emphasizing the need to maintain electricity and clean water supplies for millions of people.
Notably, the cholera epidemic, which spreads through contaminated water, resurfaced in Sudan last year. By October, government sources had recorded 24,609 cases and 699 deaths.
