In its Thursday evening update, the coordination body confirmed that more than 7,437 infections and 315 deaths first appeared in the conflict-torn region. The report described the situation as a “forgotten humanitarian and health catastrophe” unfolding alongside the war and looming famine.
The epidemic is concentrated in camps for displaced people in Tawila, Jebel Marra, Zalingei, Nyala, and Shaeria, including the Khazan Jadeed area. Health centers logged 46 new infections in the past 24 hours, with 81 patients currently receiving treatment in isolation facilities.
Tawila in North Darfur has emerged as the epicenter of the crisis. The town and its surrounding camps have reported 4,537 cases and 75 deaths, mostly among displaced families living in dire conditions. Other major clusters of infection have been identified in Jebel Marra, as well as camps around Zalingei and in East Darfur.
Health responders warn that the epidemic is straining fragile facilities already battered by war. The coordination body highlighted the “shortage of medical supplies and the limited capacity of isolation centers,” which are hindering containment efforts despite the commitment of humanitarian organizations, local volunteers, and emergency rooms. It praised those on the ground for their “tireless efforts” but stressed that they are working against overwhelming odds.
“The daily increase in infections represents a forgotten humanitarian and health catastrophe,” the statement read. “In the shadow of war and famine, thousands of displaced and refugee lives in Darfur are at risk.”
The group urged the World Health Organization (WHO) and international relief agencies to mount an immediate intervention. Without stronger support, it warned, the epidemic could spiral further out of control, claiming even more lives among vulnerable populations trapped in displacement camps.
The spread of cholera comes as Darfur grapples with the consequences of Sudan’s brutal conflict. Civilians in the region face relentless violence, widespread hunger, and collapsing services. The addition of a deadly waterborne disease has further compounded what aid workers described as one of the world’s most neglected emergencies.
Cholera, transmitted through contaminated water and poor sanitation, thrives in overcrowded camps where tens of thousands of displaced families live without reliable access to clean drinking water. Medical experts say prevention requires urgent improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, alongside consistent medical treatment for those infected.
Humanitarian groups operating in Darfur have long warned that the destruction of infrastructure and obstruction of aid delivery leave communities dangerously exposed to disease outbreaks. With the rainy season exacerbating contamination risks, health officials fear the crisis will deepen unless immediate international assistance arrives.
The coordination body emphasized that the international community cannot afford to ignore the crisis. “We call on the World Health Organization and international institutions to intervene urgently and provide medical and humanitarian support to prevent further deterioration,” it said.
As Darfur struggles under the combined weight of war, hunger, and now cholera, health workers and displaced families alike fear that without swift global action, the death toll will continue to climb.
