Sudan is grappling with its worst cholera outbreak in years, with at least 40 people dying in just one week, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The outbreak has overwhelmed health centres, forcing staff to treat patients on floors due to a shortage of beds.

The disease, primarily caused by contaminated water, is spreading rapidly in displacement camps across conflict-hit areas like North Darfur. Families are often forced to drink unsafe water, sometimes from wells that had recently held bodies. MSF reports over 2,300 patients treated in Tawila last month alone, with a 130-bed centre receiving 400 patients in the first week of August.

Sudan has seen over 99,700 suspected cholera cases and more than 2,470 deaths since the outbreak began a year ago. Conflict, mass displacement, and heavy rains continue to worsen the crisis by polluting water sources and overwhelming sanitation infrastructure.

In Tawila, where over 380,000 people have fled violence, the average water supply is just 3 litres per person daily, far below the WHO’s emergency minimum of 7.5 litres. MSF warns that poor hygiene conditions are making it nearly impossible to contain the disease.

Cholera is now spreading beyond displacement camps into towns and cities across Darfur, with neighbouring Chad also reporting cases and deaths.

MSF and public health officials are calling for an urgent international response to provide healthcare, improve water and sanitation services, and roll out cholera vaccinations. As MSF’s head of mission Tuna Turkmen said:

“Survivors of war must not be left to die from a preventable disease.”