Cholera Surge in Khartoum — 2,500 Cases in Three Weeks; Over 1 Million Children at Risk

MSF reported on May 26, 2026 that cholera is spreading rapidly in Khartoum, with 2,500 cases recorded in just three weeks. The Khartoum Ministry of Health separately reported 633 cases and 24 deaths on May 23 alone. Over 1 million children in Khartoum are at risk of cholera infection, according to health authorities. The outbreak is driven by the near-total destruction of Khartoum's water and sanitation infrastructure during two years of urban combat: 80% of water supply facilities were damaged or destroyed, sewage treatment has collapsed, and millions displaced by the war are returning to neighborhoods without functioning services. One year after SAF expelled RSF from Khartoum, the city faces simultaneous crises: cholera, a $3 billion electricity infrastructure deficit, and collapsed health services. The cholera outbreak compounds Sudan's broader public health collapse — 37% of health facilities nationwide are non-functional, and RSF drone attacks have struck 12+ healthcare facilities since January 2026. WHO and MSF are conducting emergency response operations in affected neighborhoods. The outbreak reflects the toll of infrastructure devastation after 18 months of urban combat in one of Africa's largest cities.