SUDAN: PATIENTS SLEEP ON BARE GROUND OUTSIDE OVERCROWDED HOSPITALS AS CHOLERA OUTBREAK SPREADS TO WHITE NILE STATE

Toronto, February 27,  2025 – More than 2200 people, including children, are now battling the deadly cholera outbreak in the city of Kosti, the capital of Sudan’s White Nile state, with the state the latest to announce the arrival of the deadly disease, Save the Children said.

Between February 20 and 26, Sudan’s Ministry of Health [1], reported over 2243 cases of cholera – or an average of nearly 400 cases a day – in Kosti. At least 70 people are confirmed to have died from the illness during this period. 

 The deadly cholera outbreak in White Nile has been linked to the shutdown of Kosti’s main water station, after a drone attack on the Um Dabakir electricity station cut-off the clean water supply to the city and forced residents to consume contaminated water. White Nile state declared its first case of cholera on Thursday 20 February with cases rapidly increasing since then.

Save the Children said health facilities in Kosti and surrounding areas have become overwhelmed, with families forced to bring beds from home for patients admitted in the hospital’s courtyard, with many sleeping on bare ground due to overcrowded wards.

A gradual increase in fighting in White Nile state has also seen significant damage on people’s homes and civilian infrastructure, including an attack last week which killed 433 civilians, according to a government statement.

The current cholera outbreak in White Nile is the latest in a series of back-to-back outbreaks which have ravaged families and children in Sudan’s conflict zones, adding to more than 53,735 cases and over 1,430 deaths [2] recorded since the cholera outbreak was declared in August last year. The deadly combination of nearly 24 months of violence decimating health facilities, floods, and water contamination has fueled the outbreak, with at least 80% of hospitals in Sudan now out of service and those operational lacking the most basic medical supplies.

Save the Children said the latest outbreak in White Nile comes at a time when its staff were closing down a cholera treatment centre after a six-month cholera response in neighboring River Nile state after that region recorded zero cases over the past two weeks [3]. In response to this new outbreak, Save the Children is ramping up its response in White Nile and called for more funds to procure intravenous fluids and increase the capacity of the isolation centre.

Mohamed Abdiladif, Country Director for Save the Children in Sudan, said:

“Children in Sudan are caught in an endless cycle of violence, disease and hunger, with devastating impact. Alongside partners, Save the Children has been responding to relentless cholera outbreaks in River Nile, Red Sea and Gedarif states for the past several months. Save the Children successfully responded to a dangerous cholera outbreak in River Nile state and our staff were relieved to be wrapping up that response just a few days ago – now they must think about the hundreds of children at risk in White Nile.

“But even more concerning is the fact that majority of the people fighting for their lives in White Nile had just returned home after a relative period of calm ready to restart their lives and now a deadly disease outbreak has thrown that into jeopardy.

“Save the Children is calling on the warring parties to stop reckless attacks on critical civilian infrastructure including dams supplying clean water to families and children in need.”

Save the Children is coordinating with the Sudan’s Ministry of Health to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services. We are providing chlorine tablets and fuel to operate water pumps to ensure clean water access for affected communities. We are also providing cleaning and garbage collection tools for the cholera affected areas. Additionally, the aid agency has launched a cleaning campaign including the collection of solid waste and transportation to the final disposal area and hygiene promotion activities.

Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across Sudan providing health, nutrition, education, child protection and food security and livelihoods support. Save the Children is also supporting refugees from Sudan in Egypt and South Sudan. 

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Notes to Editors

[1] & [2] A total of 2243 people were diagnosed with cholera in Kosti in White Nile state between 20 and 26 February, according to the latest figures from Sudan’s Health Ministry and the Health Cluster.

[3] As per the standards, the responding agency needs to record zero cases over a period of one month before the cholera outbreak is declared over and a cholera treatment centre (CTC) closed down. However, the Sudan government recommended closure of Save the Children’s CTC in River Nile before the one month thanks to rapid gains made in bringing the outbreak under control through intensive community interventions such as vector control, community WASH interventions and Hygiene Kits distributions.