Cholera outbreak escalates as refugee camps in South Sudan overrun

South Sudan is grappling with a worsening cholera outbreak as a surge of refugees fleeing the violence in neighboring Sudan overwhelms transit centers and strains health services.

In less than three weeks, over 80,000 people, mostly women and children, crossed into South Sudan, seeking refuge from the intensifying conflict in Sudan’s White Nile, Sennar, and Blue Nile states, according to the UN refugee agency.

The border town of Renk, which was designed to house 8,000 people, is now sheltering more than 17,000 refugees, many of whom are forced to sleep outside. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has called the situation “completely overwhelming,” citing limited access to food, clean water, and medical care as key factors worsening the crisis.

“Drinking water is contaminated, and patients arrive at our centres in critical condition – many are on the brink of death,” said Mamman Mustapha, MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan. He urged for “immediate action” to prevent a further rise in cholera cases.

In Unity state, where cholera is spreading rapidly, 92 deaths have been reported, with more than 1,200 cases treated in Bentiu alone within a month. Near the capital, Juba, camps have seen 1,700 suspected cases and 25 deaths. The poor sanitation in the camps, including uncollected waste and overflowing toilets, is worsening the situation.

More than 5,000 people have been crossing the border daily in December, as the conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces continues. MSF’s emergency coordinator, Emanuele Montobbio, warned that facilities are stretched beyond capacity, with over 100 severely injured patients in Renk awaiting surgery.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is also struggling to manage the escalating crisis, as new arrivals continue to flood into Renk, fleeing the violence that began in Sudan in April 2023.