United Nations (UN) officials have warned that a cholera outbreak is endangering refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region as shortages of clean water, sanitation, and other basic resources worsen in camps across eastern Chad.
In the Iridimi camp, thousands of refugees lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, conditions the World Health Organization (WHO) says heighten the risk of contracting cholera. The waterborne disease, transmitted through contaminated food or water, can cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, and death within hours if left untreated.
WHO Senior Emergency Officer Dr. Ilham Nour reported that more than 100,000 cholera cases have been recorded since July 2024, describing the outbreak as fast-developing and highly contagious, and noting that it adds to the devastation already caused by Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
The war erupted over two years ago when fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) spread from the capital, Khartoum, to multiple regions. At least 20,000 people have been reported killed, though the true toll is likely higher, and more than 14 million have been displaced. The UN describes the situation as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, marked by disease, famine, and widespread atrocities.
In Chad, UNHCR Principal Situation Coordinator for Eastern Chad, Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, said 230,000 refugees could be at risk if urgent measures are not taken. He confirmed 264 cases and 12 deaths in the Iridimi camp alone.
“As a consequence, UNHCR has suspended the relocation of refugees from border points in order to prevent new cases,” he said.
Humanitarian agencies are appealing for immediate assistance to contain the outbreak and provide clean water, medical supplies, and emergency sanitation facilities.
