The outbreak, Sudan’s third major cholera wave in three years, began only two months after authorities declared the previous epidemic over in March. Between July 2024 and March 2026, more than 124,400 infections and approximately 3,500 deaths were recorded during the last outbreak, according to Sudanese government data

WHO Sudan Representative Dr. Shible Sahbani said cholera had historically appeared in cyclical outbreaks every three years but has become increasingly persistent because of prolonged conflict, restricted humanitarian access and shortages of essential medical supplies.

The latest outbreak was officially declared this week in West Kordofan, a strategic region divided between areas controlled by the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Ongoing fighting and repeated drone strikes have severely disrupted humanitarian operations and commercial access to the region.

Health officials warned that conditions are likely to deteriorate further as Sudan enters its annual rainy season, when flooding contaminates water sources, hampers aid deliveries and increases the risk of waterborne diseases among displaced communities lacking access to safe drinking water and sanitatio
The WHO also reported signs that the outbreak is spreading into neighboring North Kordofan, where nearly 300 suspected cases and three deaths have been reported.

The United Nations has warned that RSF forces are preparing a major ground assault on the state capital, El-Obeid, while continued attacks on electricity infrastructure have disrupted access to drinking water and other essential services.

More than three years of conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF have devastated the country’s healthcare system. According to the WHO, around 40 percent of health facilities are completely non-functional, while most of the remaining facilities operate only partially, limiting their ability to provide essential medical services.

Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that Sudan faces one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies, with widespread displacement, food insecurity and disease outbreaks compounding the impact of prolonged conflict across large parts of the country.