SUDAN is facing the risk of an epidemic outbreak as the country’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse due to armed conflict.
The humanitarian situation there has become increasingly grim amid armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Violent clashes have continued in the greater capital area, comprising the capital of Khartoum, Omdurman, and Khartoum North. Heavy rains have also devastated Khartoum since the beginning of August.
The humid and hot environment in the rainy season is catalyzing the breeding of germs and mosquitoes that spread diseases in this season, leading to the spread of many infectious diseases.
Water treatment facilities in the greater capital area were also severely damaged in the conflict.
After the rainy season comes, untreated garbage is easy to breed bacteria and may infiltrate into the city’s water supply system with rainwater, causing pollution on a large scale.
“For safety concerns, garbage disposal trucks can’t enter many areas and can’t transport the garbage on the street to the disposal site for proper treatment. [mosquito breeding] is a serious hidden danger at present. After entering rainy season, infectious diseases brought by mosquitoes will lead to more serious disasters than conflicts,” Motasim Yousif Sharwany, Government Official said.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 80 percent of hospitals in Sudan are now out of service. A large number of pharmacies have also closed down due to the deterioration of the security situation and the shortage of medicine.
“We have lost the supply channel of medicines, and now the medicines on the shelves are all our stocks. In fact, almost all daily medicines are in short supply,” Mohamed Abdo, Drug Store Owner said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles and cholera have broken out in some parts of Sudan, including more than 2,000 measles cases, resulting in 30 deaths.
“People are in a living hell. If someone get sick, it is difficult for him to get treatment. In many other areas, water supply has been cut off, power outages have occurred continuously, and food supply is very scarce. In bakeries and other shops, food is almost out of stock,” Moustafa Saeed, Resident said.
