 has warned that ongoing violence in South Sudan's Upper Nile state is exacerbating the cholera outbreak, further displacing thousands of people and preventing access to vital healthcare, clean water, and sanitation.){kind=link}
Otto Abut
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that ongoing violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state is exacerbating the cholera outbreak, further displacing thousands of people and preventing access to vital healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. The deteriorating conditions are driving the rapid spread of cholera throughout the region.
The cholera outbreak, declared in October 2024, continues to spread alarmingly across South Sudan. In Akobo County alone, over 1,300 new cases have been reported in just four weeks. MSF is calling for urgent support to health facilities, the provision of safe water, and the implementation of cholera vaccination campaigns to curb the outbreak.
Since late February, clashes between government forces and armed groups in Upper Nile state have intensified, leading to increased displacement as people flee to neighboring Ethiopia. These escalating conflicts, along with new hotspots in both Upper Nile and Jonglei states, are forcing hundreds of refugees to cross into Ethiopia in search of medical care. Unfortunately, cholera is also rapidly spreading across the western parts of Ethiopia, further threatening the health of thousands.
MSF has been treating wounded patients on both sides of the Ethiopian-South Sudanese border. “Our team in Gambella has received over 150 patients at our Wanthao facility. In Ulang, 23 patients injured in the recent clashes have been treated so far,” said the organization.
To combat the spread of cholera, MSF has distributed thousands of water purification sachets and set up Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) to provide immediate treatment to both local Ethiopian communities and refugees arriving from South Sudan. These efforts are critical in ensuring access to clean water and life-saving care amid the escalating humanitarian crisis.
MSF has emphasized the urgent need for coordinated international support to address the dual threats of the cholera outbreak and the ongoing conflict, which are endangering the lives of thousands of vulnerable individuals.