Sudanese refugees confront cholera, armed with lemons as their makeshift remedy

Sudanese refugees confront cholera, armed with lemons as their makeshift remedy

In the troubled region of Tawila, Darfur, Sudan, the cholera outbreak shows no signs of abatement as of August 2025. According to recent reports, over 2,140 cholera infections and at least 80 deaths have been recorded across Darfur by July 30 [1].

The situation in Tawila is dire, with more than 640,000 children under the age of 5 at risk of contracting cholera [2]. The first cases were detected in early June in the village of Tabit, about 25 kilometers south [3]. The outbreak has since spread rapidly, particularly in the refugee camps, where access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare is limited.

Access to clean water is a critical issue in Tawila. Many residents, including displaced populations, lack essential Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) supplies such as jerrycans, buckets, and soap [4]. As a result, around 90% of households in some IDP camps do not have latrine access, leading to widespread open defecation that greatly increases contamination and transmission risk [4]. Floodwaters carry pathogens that contaminate water sources and food, further exacerbating the situation [4].

Medical treatment facilities in Tawila are overwhelmed. Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs) and Centers (CTCs) are operating beyond capacity, and critical supplies like IV Ringer’s Lactate needed for treating severe dehydration are either in critically short supply or unavailable [2]. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which manages almost all case treatment in Tawila, estimates that cases could peak at 28,000, emphasizing the scale of the outbreak [1][5]. MSF and the Ministry of Health have treated thousands, but resources and staffing remain stretched [5].

Humanitarian efforts are ongoing but heavily challenged by the security and logistical context. The delivery of medical and WASH supplies is difficult and delayed, aggravating the crisis severity [2]. Organizations like SAMA are actively working with local partners to deliver life-saving supplies such as IV fluids [2], while MSF calls for urgent scale-up of health care, water and sanitation improvements, and vaccination campaigns in Darfur [5].

Despite the challenging circumstances, residents of Tawila continue to struggle. Ibrahim, a resident of Tawila, mentions that no one around has soap [2]. Haloum Ahmed, another resident, has been suffering from severe diarrhea for three days [2]. Fatna Essa, another displaced woman in Tawila, states that they have no food, pots, blankets, or any other essentials [6]. In an effort to combat the disease, many residents, like Mona Ibrahim, add lemon to the water and drink it as a makeshift remedy [7].

The conflict in Sudan, which has killed tens of thousands and created the world's largest displacement and hunger crises, according to the United Nations, has further exacerbated the cholera outbreak in Tawila [8]. The exodus followed attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in conflict with Sudan's regular army since April 2023 [9]. The UN has warned of food insecurity in Tawila, where aid has been insufficient to feed the hundreds of thousands who go hungry [10].

In Tawila, health workers are trying to contain the cholera outbreak, but resources are stretched thin. More than 1,500 cholera cases have been treated in Tawila alone in the past month [11]. MSF's Penicaud states that the situation is extremely worrying but the people have no other choice [12]. Despite the ongoing challenges, efforts to improve water access, sanitation, and healthcare continue, offering a glimmer of hope in this dire situation.

[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/cholera-outbreak-in-darfur-sudan [2] https://www.msf.org/en/article/cholera-outbreak-darfur-sudan [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/11/sudan-reports-first-cholera-cases-in-darfur-region [4] https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/darfur-cholera-outbreak-threatens-childrens-lives [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-cholera-outbreak-threatens-spread-darfur-msf-2023-06-12/ [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-cholera-outbreak-threatens-spread-darfur-msf-2023-06-12/ [7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/11/sudan-reports-first-cholera-cases-in-darfur-region [8] https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-hunger-crisis-worlds-largest-un-warns [9] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/16/sudan-conflict-paramilitary-rapid-support-forces-attack-army-in-darfur [10] https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-hunger-crisis-worlds-largest-un-warns [11] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-cholera-outbreak-threatens-spread-darfur-msf-2023-06-12/ [12] https://www.msf.org/en/article/cholera-outbreak-darfur-sudan

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