Cholera continues to spread rapidly across North Darfur, Sudan, with more than 1,180 reported cases in Tawila alone, including around 300 children. The town, which has received over 500,000 displaced people since April, has also seen at least 20 deaths. The broader Darfur region has recorded nearly 2,140 cholera cases and at least 80 fatalities as of 30 July. Despite cholera being both preventable and treatable, the disease is claiming lives due to collapsing health services and unsanitary living conditions.
Tawila, situated just 70 kilometres from the conflict-ravaged state capital El Fasher, is at the centre of multiple crises. Hospitals have been destroyed, health facilities shut down, and overcrowded camps with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water have become breeding grounds for cholera. The disease outbreak is occurring amidst a much larger humanitarian catastrophe. Since April 2023, Sudan’s conflict has led to the destruction of infrastructure, displacement of millions, and the collapse of food systems, while famine has been declared in at least 10 areas, including Zamzam camp.
Children are among the most affected, with over 640,000 under the age of five now at risk in North Darfur. The number of severely malnourished children has doubled in the past year. UNICEF warns that malnourished children are far more vulnerable to cholera and face a higher risk of death. The agency emphasized that immediate action is needed to save lives, urging all parties to facilitate humanitarian access and remove barriers that are blocking aid delivery.
To combat the outbreak, UNICEF is scaling up its emergency response in Tawila and across the region by providing Oral Rehydration Salts, clean water, and hygiene kits. Awareness campaigns on cholera prevention and treatment are also underway. Currently, nearly 30,000 people in Tawila have access to safe drinking water through these efforts.
Looking ahead, UNICEF plans to distribute over 1.4 million doses of oral cholera vaccine and expand treatment centres, while also preparing supplies such as soap, plastic sheeting, and latrine slabs. However, access constraints continue to hamper response efforts. Since the outbreak began in August 2024, more than 94,000 cholera cases and over 2,370 deaths have been reported across 17 of Sudan’s 18 states. UNICEF is urgently seeking $30.6 million to fully fund its emergency cholera response and help contain the epidemic.
