Sudanese health officials reported on Thursday that over 400 cases of cholera have been detected in the southern city of Kosti, following a drone attack that disrupted the area’s power and water supply.
The health ministry in White Nile state attributed the surge in infections to “a shortage of water due to power outages.”
The crisis began after eyewitnesses reported a drone strike on Sunday targeting the Um Dabakar power station, which supplies electricity to Kosti, located 275 kilometres (170 miles) south of the capital, Khartoum.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal war between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has killed tens of thousands, displaced over 12 million, and triggered severe hunger and humanitarian crises.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned of a disturbing pattern of attacks on critical civilian infrastructure, including power stations, which has left millions without access to clean water or electricity.
The government had already declared a cholera epidemic last year, with 24,609 cases and 699 deaths recorded by October.
Cholera, which causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, can be deadly without prompt treatment but is manageable with oral rehydration and antibiotics in severe cases.
In response to the latest outbreak, the health ministry announced it had deployed 100 medical personnel and provided over 6,000 intravenous solutions to treat patients.
However, Sudan’s healthcare system has been devastated by war, with 80 per cent of health facilities in conflict-affected areas forced to shut down.
Meanwhile, White Nile state has witnessed intense violence this week. A three-day assault by RSF forces on villages about 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Kosti resulted in more than 200 deaths, according to Sudan’s Emergency Lawyers network.
The army-backed government has put the toll at 433. The UN migration agency also reported that over 6,500 families were displaced during the first two days of the attack near the town of Al-Qutaina.
