Over 3 million children in Sudan at risk of infectious diseases: Critical warning from the UN

The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that 3.4 million children under the age of 5 living in Sudan could fall ill as a result of the ongoing cholera epidemic in the country.

In a written statement from OCHA, it was stated that 'Sudan is currently facing a variety of infectious diseases, including cholera, malaria, dengue fever, measles, and rubella.'

The statement emphasized that 3.4 million children under the age of 5 are at risk of contracting infectious diseases.

The statement noted that the infectious diseases are caused by a decline in vaccination rates and the destruction of health, water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure as a result of the ongoing conflict in the country, and reported that according to research, there is a worrying deterioration in nutritional status across 18 states in Sudan.

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Health workers in the country emphasize that they cannot effectively combat the disease due to the ongoing war

MALNUTRITION INCREASES DISEASE RISK

The statement shared the information that Sudan is among the top 4 countries in the world for malnutrition.

The statement also noted that the ongoing conflicts in some parts of Sudan are forcing more people to be displaced and are further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation.

On the other hand, the Sudanese Ministry of Health announced in a statement that the number of people who have lost their lives due to the cholera epidemic in the country has risen to 545.

The statement reported that the number of cholera cases has reached 18,382.

The rains and floods that have been effective in Sudan since June have led to the spread of cholera. Sudanese authorities declared cholera an epidemic on August 12.

In war-torn Sudan, the spread of infectious diseases makes people's lives even more difficult during this period when the health system is not functioning effectively.

SUDAN CIVIL WAR CONTINUES

The power struggle between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which staged a joint coup against the government formed with the participation of civilians after the 30-year rule of Omar al-Bashir was toppled by a popular uprising, has been going on for more than 17 months.

All attempts to find a solution to end the war have remained inconclusive.

According to the United Nations, more than 20,000 people have lost their lives, more than 10 million people have been displaced, and more than 25 million people are living in need of humanitarian aid as a result of the conflicts in Sudan, which is experiencing the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis.

News Source: AA