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This report is part of the collaborative newsroom initiative launched by the Sudan Media Forum under the #StandWithSudan campaign.
31 August 2024 (Omdurman) – As Sudan’s war continues, the people of Omdurman are facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Hunger, disease and environmental degradation are taking a heavy toll on the local population, while the international community works to end the conflict.
More than 25 million Sudanese are starving, with 10 million displaced. Deteriorating environmental conditions are heightening fears of dying from hunger or disease. Bombings, unburied bodies and the destruction of water stations are creating fertile ground for disease.
Cholera, dysentery and eye diseases such as trachoma and conjunctivitis are raging. Years of conflict have left health systems fragile and unable to cope with the surge in cases. 80% of health facilities have lost their ability to function, and most in conflict zones have stopped operating altogether.
In areas not directly affected by the fighting, health facilities are overwhelmed, with doctors and health workers – many of whom are volunteers from local communities – facing overcrowding and even attacks.
In Omdurman, the spread of epidemics such as watery diarrhoea and cholera is a cause for concern. In the last month, 165 cases of enteric diarrhoea were reported in Kalari district, of which 102 occurred in children who were able to reach a health centre.
The people of Omdurman, like millions of Sudanese, are caught in a desperate struggle for survival. As the war continues, the humanitarian crisis will only deepen.
Eye infections and outbreaks
Eye infections, especially conjunctivitis and trachoma, are increasing in Omdurman, with health centres reporting 40 to 50 cases a day. More people are likely to go untreated due to a lack of medical services and affordable medicines, turning to traditional remedies. Eye drops and tetracycline ointment are in short supply and increasingly expensive, costing up to 8,000 Sudanese pounds.
The collapse of the health sector, combined with a shortage of clean water and overflowing sewage, has created perfect conditions for disease outbreaks. Cholera, dysentery and eye infections are spreading rapidly, while experts warn that even more serious diseases such as dengue fever could emerge.
“This issue is not just about medicines, it is also about field work,” said a primary health care expert, stressing the urgent need for cleaning and pest control efforts.
Cases of scabies and monkeypox have been reported in Kalari, raising concerns about the possible further spread of these diseases, which are often prevalent in neighbouring countries and can easily cross borders in the absence of effective awareness campaigns.
The expert criticized the health ministry for its lack of transparency and its lack of proactive response to the outbreak. “The ministry had no idea what was going on until the disease spread,” he said.
The situation in Omdurman highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive response to Sudan’s health crisis. Medical supplies, hygiene efforts and public health campaigns are all critical to preventing further suffering and loss of life.
Residents face severe health conditions
In the densely populated Um Badah region, where most men work as laborers and women sell food and tea to support their families, night blindness and diarrhea have become the most common diseases. Despite daily airstrikes and violence, local residents, many of whom are large families who cannot afford to flee, have chosen to stay.
The situation is particularly bad in the Rapid Support Forces-controlled district of Kalari, where residents have been subjected to robberies, arrests and various forms of abuse. The only Tawari centre, which serves the Um Badah area, blocks 43 and 51 and Wad al-Bashir, was once a hub for emergencies such as childbirths and gunshot wounds, with critical cases referred to Al-Nau Hospital. Now, the centre, staffed mostly by volunteer medical staff, nurses and paramedics, is struggling to cope with the surge in illnesses.
Watery diarrhea, dysentery, and eye diseases (especially trachoma) are rampant. Recently, night blindness and leg weakness (probably due to vitamin deficiency) have become major problems. The center lacks basic medicines such as eye drops and tetracycline ointment, forcing residents to rely on traditional remedies or buy expensive medicines they cannot afford.
Due to the security situation, the centre has limited operating hours, further hindering access to health care and endangering many lives in the area. Trapped in the war zone with limited resources and no access to health care, the people of Um Badah are facing a growing health crisis.
International organizations sound the alarm
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an outbreak of cholera in three states of Sudan (Gadaref, Khartoum and South Kordofan), with suspected cases in Jazira and Kassala. WHO warns that cholera is spreading rapidly due to unsafe water, poor sanitation, displacement and weak health systems. It is estimated that by the end of this year, 3.1 million people will be at risk of contracting cholera.
WHO also expressed concern about rising rates of malaria and dengue fever, and untreated chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The impact of the war on the health sector and primary care has been severe, and the lack of clean water and water treatment poses a major threat to public health.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports that Sudanese civilians are suffering horrific violence and increasing physical and mental trauma due to a collapsed health system and insufficient international aid. Access to health care and life-saving medicines is severely limited, medical staff are attacked, supplies are looted, and there is a widespread disregard for human life and international humanitarian law.
Residents in conflict zones and shelters tell harrowing stories of violence, forced displacement, looting and pillaging. Sudan’s humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with millions facing dire conditions.
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