A new wave of cholera outbreak in Sudan has killed at least 120 people in West Kordofan and caused 1,102 suspected cases since May, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak is spreading in parts of the country affected by the ongoing war.
Health officials said Sudan is facing its third cholera outbreak in three years. The latest outbreak started only two months after the previous one ended in March. Government data shows that the last outbreak infected more than 124,400 people and killed about 3,500 between July 2024 and March 2026.
The WHO said cholera has long existed in Sudan, but the conflict has made outbreaks more frequent. Fighting has damaged hospitals, limited access to medical supplies and made it difficult for health workers to reach affected communities.
The Sudanese government declared the latest outbreak in West Kordofan, an area divided by fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Health officials also reported nearly 300 suspected cases and three deaths in neighboring North Kordofan, raising concerns that the disease is spreading.
The WHO warned that the coming rainy season could make the outbreak worse. Many people do not have access to safe drinking water, and heavy rains may increase the spread of the disease while making aid deliveries more difficult.
The war has also pushed Sudan’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse. According to the WHO, about 40% of health facilities are no longer operating. Many of the remaining hospitals can provide only limited services because of shortages of staff, medicine and equipment.
Health officials continue to call for greater humanitarian access and more medical support to help control the outbreak and protect vulnerable communities.
