Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim has declared a cholera epidemic in Sudan, attributing it to contaminated drinking water and weather conditions. The outbreak has killed nearly two dozen people and sickened hundreds more in recent weeks. According to a statement released on Sunday, at least 22 people have died from the disease, with 354 confirmed cases across the country.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 11,327 cholera cases with 316 deaths in Sudan. Cholera is a highly contagious infection that causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration, particularly dangerous for children under five. The disease is transmitted through contaminated food or water.
The cholera outbreak adds to the existing challenges facing Sudan, including devastating seasonal floods and a civil war that has been ongoing since April last year. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in thousands of deaths, displacements, and widespread famine in the region. The war has also damaged civilian infrastructure and healthcare facilities.
Despite the ongoing conflict, efforts are being made to negotiate a ceasefire and end the violence in Sudan. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations are involved in trying to facilitate peace talks between the military factions. A government delegation from Sudan is set to meet with US officials in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire negotiations in Switzerland.
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