Sudan's RSF Seizes Key Towns Amid Deadly Health Crisis
Khartoum Faces Mounting Health Catastrophe
Meanwhile, Khartoum confronts a severe cholera outbreak claiming 70 lives this week alone. Health authorities recorded over 2,100 new infections in just two days. The crisis follows drone strikes crippling the capital's water and electricity infrastructure weeks prior. Consequently, health and sanitation systems are barely functioning across the devastated city.
Sudan's brutal war has raged for over two years, dividing the nation effectively. Army forces hold the centre, east, and north currently. Conversely, RSF paramilitaries dominate western Darfur and southern areas. This conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced 13 million civilians. Furthermore, the UN calls it the world's worst humanitarian disaster.
Moreover, cholera is now endemic across twelve Sudanese states, with authorities reporting over 65,000 cases and 1,700 deaths since August. The federal health ministry counted 172 deaths last week. Khartoum state bore 90% of these fatalities. Health workers warn deteriorating conditions accelerate infection rates alarmingly. Moreover, up to 90% of hospitals in battle zones are non-operational.
Urgent Aid Needed Amid Rainy Season Threat
International Rescue Committee Director Eatizaz Yousif warns Sudan nears a 'full-scale public health disaster'. Conflict, displacement, and destroyed infrastructure fuel disease resurgence. Aid agencies fear next month's rainy season will worsen the crisis drastically. Rain severely limits humanitarian access precisely when needs surge. The WHO delivered 22 metric tons of supplies recently. Vaccinations also started in Khartoum's hardest-hit district.
Simultaneously, Sudan faces US sanctions over alleged military chemical weapons use. Khartoum's foreign ministry expressed disbelief regarding these accusations. It also formed a national committee to investigate the serious charges formally. The military-backed government recently claimed dislodging RSF fighters from Khartoum state bases.
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