Aid organizations in Sudan are struggling to contain multiple disease outbreaks, including dengue fever, mpox and suspected cholera cases, amid worsening insecurity and severely restricted humanitarian access, the United Nations humanitarian agency said on Thursday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said health partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), are responding to a suspected outbreak of acute watery diarrhea in El Nuhud in West Kordofan State, a condition commonly associated with cholera.
More than 100 suspected cases and dozens of related deaths have been reported in the area this week, according to OCHA.
The situation reflects a broader public health emergency unfolding across Sudan, where conflict, displacement and damaged infrastructure have created ideal conditions for the spread of infectious diseases.
In the Darfur region, humanitarian agencies are working alongside local health authorities to respond to a suspected mpox outbreak in Central Darfur and South Darfur states.
OCHA said more than 300 suspected cases and five related deaths have been reported in Darfur this week, placing additional strain on an already overstretched health system.
The WHO is also supporting large-scale vaccination campaigns targeting cholera and measles in parts of Darfur, in coordination with local authorities, as health risks continue to escalate.
At the same time, dengue fever outbreaks are spreading in northern parts of the country.
In Northern State and River Nile State, WHO and health partners have been responding to rising dengue fever infections, with suspected cases in Northern State increasing more than threefold in the past month to over 500 cases.
Health officials warn that the simultaneous spread of multiple infectious diseases is overwhelming limited medical resources and increasing the risk of further outbreaks in displacement camps and urban centers.
OCHA said the ongoing health emergency is being compounded by persistent insecurity that continues to endanger civilians and disrupt humanitarian operations across Sudan.
In South Kordofan, drone strikes in and around the town of Dilling on Wednesday reportedly killed at least two people and injured several others.
One of the attacks also damaged a healthcare facility and destroyed essential medical supplies and equipment, further reducing access to emergency care in the region.
The destruction of medical infrastructure has become a growing concern for aid agencies, as hospitals and clinics face repeated disruptions amid ongoing conflict.
OCHA said humanitarian partners have managed to assist more than 1.6 million people in Sudan during the first four months of the year, despite significant operational constraints.
However, the agency warned that continued insecurity and funding shortages are severely limiting the scale and effectiveness of aid operations.
Humanitarian organizations are calling for increased financial support to sustain life-saving assistance for millions of people affected by the crisis.
OCHA also urged all parties involved in the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The agency emphasized the importance of guaranteeing safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to ensure that aid can reach populations in need across affected regions.
Sudan has been facing a deepening humanitarian crisis driven by ongoing armed conflict, mass displacement and the collapse of essential services.
The overlapping outbreaks of dengue fever, mpox and cholera add a new layer of urgency to an already critical situation, raising concerns among international health and relief organizations about the risk of a wider regional public health emergency.
Health experts warn that without improved security conditions, expanded funding and coordinated international intervention, the spread of infectious diseases in Sudan could accelerate further in the coming months, particularly in areas hosting large displaced populations.
For now, aid agencies continue to operate under extremely difficult conditions, balancing emergency medical response with efforts to maintain basic humanitarian assistance in some of the most affected parts of the country.
