UNICEF: More than 1 million children at risk of cholera in Sudan

In a written statement made by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), it was stated that there was an approximately nine-fold increase in cholera cases between May 15-25.

The statement said that more than 7,700 cholera cases have been reported since January, more than 1,000 of which are children under the age of 5, and that "More than a million children are at risk due to the ongoing epidemic, especially in Khartoum."

"We are working with our partners, in coordination with the Ministry of Health of Sudan , to limit the spread of this deadly disease and save lives," the statement said.

Risk of famine

Explaining that 307,000 children in the country are at risk of famine due to acute malnutrition, the statement said: "Approximately 26,500 of these malnourished children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition."

It was also reported that more than 34,000 people have returned to Khartoum state since the beginning of 2025, many of whom have settled in damaged homes in areas lacking basic services, especially clean water and sanitation networks.

UNICEF reported that repeated attacks on power plants in Khartoum state last month caused widespread power outages, worsening the water shortage crisis and severely affecting access to clean and safe water.

In the same context, according to the news of the Sudanese official news agency (SUNA), Minister of Health Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim drew attention to the importance of strengthening coordination between the ministry and international organizations in order to prevent the spread of cholera and reduce the loss of life.

Call for support

Health Minister Ibrahim called on donors to redouble their support to the health sector, given the serious challenges facing the country.

Sudan's Ministry of Health announced yesterday that 172 people died in several states in the past week and a total of 2,729 cholera cases were detected.