KHARTOUM: War-torn Sudan is grappling with catastrophic outbreaks of dengue fever and acute watery diarrhea, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives, warn medics on Monday. The deteriorating health situation in the southeastern state of Gedaref, bordering Ethiopia, is a grave concern, with thousands afflicted by dengue fever.
Gedaref, although spared direct conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been deeply affected by mass displacement and other humanitarian crises. Sudan’s healthcare system, already fragile before the war, struggled annually with disease outbreaks during the rainy season, including endemic malaria and dengue fever.
This year, with Gedaref accommodating over 250,000 internally displaced persons, the situation has escalated to an alarming extent. Hospitals in the region are overwhelmed, with children being disproportionately affected. Many affected individuals are receiving treatment at home due to the surge in cases.
Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, presents symptoms such as high fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and severe bleeding in the most critical cases, which can lead to fatalities.
Disease Outbreak in Sudan
The violence in Sudan, coupled with the rainy season and deteriorated infrastructure, has created fertile ground for disease outbreaks. The United Nations refugee agency has reported over 1,200 child fatalities in refugee camps since May, partly due to a measles outbreak.
In North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher, a spike in malaria cases was observed, while in the east of Khartoum, in the Hajj Youssef district, three fatalities occurred due to suspected cholera cases, described as acute watery diarrhea.
Health crises further compound Sudan’s dire humanitarian situation. Half of the country’s 48 million population depends on aid for survival, with six million on the brink of starvation, according to the UN. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian representative in Sudan, issued a dire warning, stating that “disaster is knocking on the door in Sudan” and urged donors to expedite pledged funds for life-saving humanitarian aid.
The ongoing conflict between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and former deputy RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has resulted in nearly 7,500 casualties as of early September. Hospitals have been bombed or occupied, and medical personnel and aid workers have become targets, with medical supplies looted. The health ministry reported the RSF forces’ control over the primary medical supplies warehouse, resulting in losses estimated at $500 million.
