Omdurman, May 31, 2025
Nour al-Din lives in despair as he struggles to save his family after his wife and two daughters contracted cholera in Omdurman, west of the Sudanese capital, which has become a major epicenter for the spread of the epidemic nationwide.
Nour al-Din (50), who recently recovered from cholera himself, expressed his frustration at the level of medical care in Al-Nau Government Hospital in central Omdurman. He continues to bear heavy financial burdens to purchase intravenous fluids from the black market at exorbitant prices. The situation worsened after the Federal Ministry of Health decided to close the isolation center at Al-Nau Hospital on Wednesday evening, following the spread of the disease around the hospital and the rising number of infections in the area.
What is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute bacterial disease caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. It is characterized by profuse watery diarrhea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and shock. If not treated immediately, cholera can be fatal within hours. Key symptoms include watery diarrhea (often described as rice water stools), vomiting, and leg cramps. Preventing cholera relies primarily on access to safe drinking water, good sanitation practices, personal hygiene, and vaccination in outbreak areas.
UNICEF stated in a recent press release that “cholera cases in Khartoum rose from 90 per day to 815 per day between May 15 and May 25 — a ninefold increase in just ten days.”
Deteriorating Medical Services
Hafez Nour al-Din (presumably a different individual or possibly related) and his wife and daughters contracted cholera less than a week ago in Omdurman. Speaking to Sudan Tribune, Nour al-Din described his extreme difficulty in providing treatment for his family. Although they received initial aid at Al-Nau Hospital, he is still struggling to meet their ongoing medical needs. He described the situation as “critical,” despite the efforts of doctors and volunteers at the hospital, which receives a growing number of patients daily.
Closure of the Isolation Center
Sources told Sudan Tribune that the Federal Ministry of Health closed the isolation center at Al-Nau Hospital on Wednesday evening due to the outbreak around the facility and the increasing number of infections in the area. The sources reported that officials from both the federal and state health ministries visited the hospital in the past two days and decided on the closure after infections around the hospital exceeded 500 cases with more than 100 deaths. Cholera patients were subsequently transferred to Bashair, Al-Ban Jadeed, Umbadda Model, Omdurman Teaching, Al-Ameen Hamed, Al-Turki, and Al-Saudi hospitals.
New Cases and Spread of the Epidemic
Fatima Ahmed from the El-Gaili area, north of Khartoum, reported that four members of her family have contracted cholera and have been receiving treatment at the Umbadda Model Hospital isolation center for the past two days. Speaking to Sudan Tribune, Fatima expressed fears of the epidemic spreading among residents due to the lack of medical services in the area. Suspected cases have also emerged in the Halfaya area, reportedly caused by the use of contaminated water and deteriorating environmental conditions.
Surge in Cases and Deaths
The Humanitarian Action Sector of the Forces of Freedom and Change (Taqaddum) revealed a sharp increase in cholera cases, now totaling 8,000, with 200 deaths reported over the past three days.
The sector stated that the emergence of eight new cases, including one death, in South Darfur is a dangerous development that could signal the spread of the epidemic to broader areas in Darfur. These regions host large populations of displaced people living in extremely poor health conditions, compounded by the ongoing conflict. The humanitarian sector called for an urgent response plan to contain the spread.
The sector also urged government authorities to declare a state of public health emergency, particularly in Khartoum State, which it described as a “disaster area” due to supply shortages, a surge in fatalities, and difficulties in controlling the outbreak amid the destruction of healthcare infrastructure caused by the war.
Rise in Cases Following Field Developments in Khartoum
Federal Minister of Health Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim revealed that cholera cases in Khartoum State have reached 1,000 daily, with a mortality rate ranging from 2% to 3%.
In an exclusive statement to Sudan Tribune, the minister noted a “rise in cholera infection rates following the liberation of the Salha area and the declaration that Khartoum is free of Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which prompted large numbers of people to return to their homes. This led to an increase in average daily cases to 1,000, with a fatality rate between 2% and 3%.”
He added that most deaths occur before patients reach isolation and treatment centers or in the advanced stages of illness, highlighting a problem with immediate hydration and timely fluid intake at the onset of symptoms. “Our goal is to reduce the fatality rate to below 1% in the coming days,” he added.
Emergency Interventions by the Ministry of Health
The minister pointed out a slight decline in the epidemiological curve over the past two days, attributing it to emergency interventions. He confirmed the provision of medical supplies, including over 100,000 bottles of IV fluids and other drugs required under the treatment protocol. The World Health Organization provided 15 tons of medications, while UNICEF delivered chlorine stocks for water purification.
The minister also noted the opening of more than 10 isolation centers with a total bed capacity exceeding 800, operated by several organizations. He announced the receipt of 2.9 million doses of cholera vaccine designated for affected localities in Khartoum.
He further stated that several cholera cases have been detected in other states, describing them as “isolated cases, mostly originating from Khartoum,” and emphasized ongoing efforts to contain the disease and prevent its spread to other regions.
It is worth noting that the new cholera wave began in Omdurman, Khartoum State, after residents resorted to using unsafe water due to the shutdown of water stations. This occurred following drone attacks by Rapid Support Forces on power stations, resulting in electricity outages that disrupted water supply operations.
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This report, prepared by Sudan Tribune, is published by the Sudanese Media Forum and its member organizations to shed light on the challenges facing civilians in Khartoum State in confronting the spread of epidemics and diseases amid a complete absence of medication and health services.
