UN Warns: Cholera Outbreak in South Sudan In critical Phase
Sudanhorizon – Agencies
The United Nations warned in a strongly worded statement that South Sudan, which is experiencing the longest-running cholera outbreak amid a protracted humanitarian crisis, escalating intercommunal violence, climate disasters such as floods, and catastrophic hunger, has entered a very critical phase.
“Now, more than ever, collective action is needed to reduce tensions, resolve political differences, and make tangible progress towards peace,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.
The United Nations indicated that since the cholera outbreak was declared in October 2024, its agencies and partners have documented more than 80,000 cases of cholera, including 1,400 deaths. This outbreak is accompanied by regional outbreaks of diseases such as dengue fever, hepatitis, and measles, among other infectious diseases.
The statement said that South Sudanese authorities, civil society, and UN agencies held a joint ministerial meeting last Monday to discuss what they described as the “alarming escalation” in the spread of the disease.
In a statement, the ministers recognized that what is happening in South Sudan “is not just a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services.”
The group decided to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access to areas already affected by the disease and to other areas at risk of outbreaks. The Government of South Sudan will coordinate these efforts.
According to the statement, partners will also work to proactively procure supplies, improve water and sanitation infrastructure, and coordinate proactive and reactive vaccination campaigns.
With the peak of the rainy season approaching, the next eight weeks are critical to contain and mitigate the outbreak before severe flooding begins.
According to the statement, the floods could more than double the rate of cholera outbreaks, compromising access to clean water and hindering humanitarian access to affected areas. With rising global temperatures exacerbating flooding, millions of South Sudanese, previously not in areas of concern, may now be at risk of a cholera outbreak.
The UN and its partners are working quickly to provide emergency supplies, particularly in these previously low-risk areas, but funding shortfalls are hampering their work. Agencies estimate they will need $1.69 billion—of which only $368 million has been received—to address the country’s many overlapping humanitarian needs.
However, the group of ministers insisted that this outbreak is, and must remain, a priority for all concerned.
“Cholera response and flood preparedness must be considered urgent national priorities,” the statement read.
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