Attachments
Highlights
• On 26 September 2023, Sudan declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref State, following confirmation of 4 stool samples from suspected cases to contain Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that causes cholera. As of 29 September, there were 307 cases and 19 deaths from Gedaref (CFR 6.18%), 400 cases and 8 deaths from South Kordofan (CFR 2%), and 110 cases and 8 deaths from Khartoum (CFR 7.27%). Investigations are ongoing to determine whether cholera has also spread to Khartoum and South Kordofan states, where increased cases of acute watery diarrhoea have been reported. WHO is supporting the response to the outbreak through coordination, expert advice, training and capacity building, transporting samples for confirmation, and provision of equipment and supplies. We have also initiated plansto request for oral cholera vaccines (OCV) from the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision to protect the population and contain the outbreak.
• Other disease outbreaks are ongoing in several states with 12 states reporting measles cases and deaths, 12 states reporting malaria cases and associated deaths, and 6 states reporting cases of dengue with associated deaths.
• It has been over five months since war broke out in Sudan, with fighting still actively ongoing in affected states.
Insecurity, displacement, limited access to medicines, medical supplies, electricity and water continue to pose enormous challenges to the delivery of health care across the entire country. Both states directly affected by the conflict such as Khartoum, West, Central and South Darfur, and North and South Kordofan and relatively peaceful states feel the brunt of the war and its effect on health care. States not directly affected by the war are receiving displaced people, hence the strain on health care and other services.
• 5.5 million people have been newly displaced due to war; 4.3 million internally and 1.2 million into neighbouring countries (DTM Sudan – Monthly Displacement Overview (1)). This is in addition to 3.7 million people that were internally displaced prior to 15 April. The new IDPs were originally displaced from eight states, with the largest number from Khartoum (68%) followed by North, South, West and Central Darfur, North and South Kordofan, and Al Jazeera.
• Malnutrition is on the rise across the country. The displacement and lack of access to food due to the war is occurring on top of an existing hunger crisis caused by prolonged drought.
• Despite the 11 May Declaration signed by the warring parties in Sudan to protect civilians, reports of attacks on health care continue to be received. Since 15 April 2023, WHO has verified 56 attacks on health care resulting in 11 deaths and 38 injuries. Attacks on health care include incidents involving hospitals, ambulances, laboratories, warehouses, health workers and patients (WHO Surveillance System of Attacks on Healthcare - SSA). WHO condemns in the strongest terms the increasing attacks on health care in Sudan.
• WHO is working with health partners to ensure faster access to emergency health supplies and treatment for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as ensuring access to psychosocial services.
• Closure of the Khartoum-Kadugli and Dilling-Kadugli roads is affecting the dispatch of medical supplies to several states in the western part of the country.