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Ahmad al-Sharaa  ·  2026-07-11 00:00

WHO: Cholera outbreak in Sudan risks worsening as humanitarian crisis deepens

Geneva, July. 11 (SANA)TheWorld Health Organizationwarned on Sunday thatSudan‘s cholera outbreak could intensify as conflict, mass displacement and the start of the rainy season create conditions for wider transmission, adding pressure to what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

TheWHOsaid the outbreak, declared on June 27, has killed at least 114 people and infected more than 1,300. Cases have been reported across several states, including Darfur and Kordofan, where insecurity continues to restrict humanitarian operations and access to healthcare.

WHO representative in Sudan Shibl Sahbani said cholera had returned and that the disease’s case fatality rate had reached 13.7%, which he described as “extremely high.” He warned that seasonal rains are likely to accelerate transmission.

The United Nations estimates that more than 33 million people require humanitarian assistance in Sudan, while the WHO says around 21 million urgently need healthcare services.

Separately, UN officials have warned of a deteriorating human rights situation in El Obeid, raising concerns that the city could face violence similar to that experienced in El Fasher after the Rapid Support Forces took control there last year.