Sudan: The EU allocates €800,000 to support response to cholera outbreak
Moatinoon
The EU announced today new funding of €800,000 to Sudan, to contribute to the response to the cholera epidemic that has been claiming lives in the country since September 2023.
The funding comes from the EU’s Emergency Toolbox to respond to sudden onset crises. It adds on to the EU humanitarian aid allocated to Sudan this year, mainly in response to the conflict that broke out in April 2023.
As of 10 December 2023, there had been almost 7,000 cholera cases, and 200 associated deaths. The cholera epidemic has now spread to 9 states in Sudan, with Gedaref, Al Jazeera and Red Sea state being the most affected ones.
The epidemic comes at a time that Sudan’s health care system is stretched to the limit due to the conflict: about 70% of hospitals in conflict-affected states are estimated to be non-functional and facilities in non-conflict affected states are overwhelmed by the influx of displaced people.
The situation is being further aggravated by climate, as the influence of El Niño is likely to continue until May 2024, bringing wetter than usual weather conditions in lowland areas of the country, already resulting in severe flood episodes in areas currently affected by the outbreak.
The additional humanitarian funding will support our humanitarian partners UNICEF and Save the Children in their work on early detection, case management, community-based surveillance, oral rehydration points and risk communication and community engagement.
The funding will also be used to roll out Cholera treatment centres/units and ensure the procurement of supplies.