Trending 
At least 80 people have died and more than 2,100 have contracted cholera across Sudan’s five Darfur states, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on Sunday, warning of worsening conditions for children caught in the crisis.
According to UNICEF, the North Darfur town of Tawila has been particularly hard-hit, with 1,180 cases and 20 deaths recorded since June 21. As of July 30, the total number of cholera infections in Darfur had reached approximately 2,140.
The agency cautioned that more than 640,000 children in North Darfur are at growing risk due to the combined effects of cholera, malnutrition, and escalating violence.
“Although cholera is preventable and treatable, it is spreading rapidly through Tawila and other parts of Darfur, endangering the lives of children—especially the youngest and most vulnerable,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan.
Despite efforts by humanitarian workers to control the outbreak, Yett said the spiralling violence is worsening needs faster than aid can be delivered. He called for “safe, unimpeded access” to vulnerable communities, stressing the urgency of immediate intervention. “They cannot wait a day longer,” he added.
UN data shows that since August 2024, over 94,170 cholera cases and more than 2,370 deaths have been reported across 17 of Sudan’s 18 states.
The outbreak comes amid Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023. The UN says the fighting has claimed more than 20,000 lives and displaced 14 million people. However, research by US-based universities puts the estimated death toll much higher, at around 130,000.
