Geneva: Europe and the Arabs
The World Health Organization reported that the global cholera situation continues to deteriorate, driven by conflict and poverty. This year, more than 390,000 cholera cases and more than 4,300 deaths have been reported in 31 countries, including Sudan and Yemen.
Katherine Alberti, WHO's technical officer for cholera, provided an update on the global cholera situation, noting that these figures are an underestimate, "but they reflect a collective failure: cholera is a disease that is easily preventable and treatable, yet it continues to claim lives." Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in Geneva on Friday, she expressed particular concern about cholera in Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Yemen. In all of these countries, conflict is fueling cholera outbreaks.
The situation in Sudan
One year after the outbreak began in Sudan, cholera has reached every state. This year alone, nearly 50,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported, with a high case fatality rate of 2.2%, exceeding the 1% threshold that indicates treatment effectiveness.
While cases have stabilized or declined in some areas, including Khartoum, they are on the rise in Darfur and affecting neighboring Chad.
In Tawila locality in North Darfur, the number of displaced people has quadrupled from 200,000 to 800,000, placing enormous pressure on water and sanitation systems. People receive an average of no more than 3 liters of water per day—for drinking, cooking, washing, and cleaning.
In neighboring Chad, where the first case was reported just over a month ago, just over 500 cases and 30 deaths have been recorded in both camps and host communities in the border province of Wadai. Cholera Vaccines
Since December, production of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) has reached record levels—6 million doses per month, the highest rate since 2013—thanks to new formulations. However, these record levels of demand have outpaced production.
Since January, the International Coordinating Group for Vaccine Provision has received 38 requests from 12 countries—three times the number compared to the same period last year.
More than 40 million doses have already been allocated this year, compared to 35 million doses allocated in all of 2024. More than 85% of the doses approved this year are for countries facing humanitarian crises, with the largest share going to Sudan.
Sudan Is Not Alone
The World Health Organization has indicated that Sudan is not the only country of concern. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 44,521 cases and 1,238 deaths have been reported this year, most of them in the conflict-affected eastern regions. In South Sudan, nearly 70,310 cases and more than 1,158 deaths have been reported.
In Yemen, there have been more than 60,794 cases and 164 deaths.
The organization stated that these numbers have two things in common: first, they are very high, and a very large number of people have been affected, and second, they are driven by conflict.
Conflict is forcing people to flee, often to overcrowded camps where water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities are weak. The overall response is hampered by depleted human resources, data gaps, and a critical funding shortfall.
WHO urged governments and the international community to:
Mobilize urgent funding.
Support the rapid deployment of vaccines and supplies, and ensure safe access for aid workers.
Invest in long-term prevention through water and sanitation, and stronger surveillance systems.