Sudan is teetering on the edge of a major health disaster as cholera and other infectious diseases rapidly spread across the country, humanitarian organization the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned.

In a span of just one week, Sudan’s Health Ministry reported 172 deaths due to cholera, most of them occurring in Khartoum state. The ministry shared the figures via social media, painting a dire picture of the outbreak’s spread.

The deteriorating health conditions are being exacerbated by the ongoing civil war, now in its third year. Local doctors have told Sudanese media that drone strikes have destroyed power lines feeding water purification stations, leaving many communities reliant on unsafe water sources.

Eatizaz Yousif, IRC’s country director in Sudan, stated that the war is directly contributing to the resurgence of cholera. In a public statement, the IRC emphasized the severity of the situation, pointing to low cholera vaccine coverage and a shortage of essential medical supplies.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has also raised the alarm, reporting "thousands of suspected cholera cases" in Khartoum since mid-April. Slaymen Ammar, MSF’s medical coordinator in Sudan, said the conflict has devastated vital infrastructure, pushing healthcare services to the brink of collapse.

"Access to healthcare is either nonexistent or unaffordable for many," Ammar said. "The ongoing violence has forced many health professionals to flee, and the few remaining facilities are overwhelmed."

According to MSF, up to 500 new cholera cases were recorded in Khartoum in a single day last week. The outbreak is not confined to the capital; cases have also emerged in northern and southern regions, according to AFP.

While many cholera infections are mild or asymptomatic, the disease can be fatal if it leads to severe dehydration. Treatment often requires antibiotics and intravenous fluids, the World Health Organization notes.

The cholera outbreak comes amid a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. Over 150,000 people have died since the conflict began between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group. The war has displaced millions and decimated critical infrastructure, plunging the country into what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.