Refugee camps overwhelmed as cholera spreads in South Sudan
South Sudan's cholera outbreak is worsening as thousands of refugees continue to arrive from neighbouring Sudan – overwhelming transit facilities and straining health services, aid groups warned this week.
More than 80,000 people, mostly women and children, crossed into South Sudan in less than three weeks following intensified fighting in Sudan's White Nile, Sennar and Blue Nile states, the UN refugee agency reported.
Transit centres in the South Sudanese border town of Renk, designed to house 8,000 people, are now hosting more than 17,000, with many forced to sleep outside.
Health emergency
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) described the situation as “completely overwhelming”, with limited access to food, clean water, and medical care exacerbating 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 called for “immediate action” to prevent a sharp rise in cholera cases.
UN says 'horrible suffering' in Sudan growing as more people displaced
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