Washington
After enduring a six-week delay prompted by conflict, a significant 44-truck humanitarian convoy has finally reached Sudan, a nation grappling with the compounded challenges of a deadly conflict and a devastating cholera outbreak. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) facilitated the passage of the convoy, enabling the delivery of essential aid from the UN Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme, and UNICEF to regions in Kordofan and Darfur.
The green light for the trucks to embark on their mission was given on Wednesday, marking a significant step forward in the efforts to provide critical assistance to the affected areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a staggering number of suspected cholera cases, with over 1,400 cases and 64 related deaths since the outbreak was declared in late September.
Humanitarian agencies have intensified their response to the outbreak, recognizing the immense strain placed on Sudan’s healthcare system, where a significant proportion of hospitals in conflict-affected states remain non-operational. Moreover, the influx of internally displaced people has overwhelmed facilities in regions unaffected by the conflict.
Amidst these dire circumstances, UNICEF and WHO have issued a stark warning, estimating that unless urgent action is taken, as many as 10,000 children under the age of 5 in Sudan could succumb to the dire consequences of escalating food insecurity and disruptions in health and nutrition services by the year’s end. With Sudan’s healthcare infrastructure under immense pressure, the WHO emphasized the critical need for immediate measures to safeguard the nation’s health systems, particularly at the community and primary healthcare levels.
