Cholera, Dengue Fever, Malaria Outbreak in Sudan

A crowd gathered in front of a medical laboratory to conduct a test for dengue fever, which is widespread in Gedaref State, eastern Sudan. (AFP)
A crowd gathered in front of a medical laboratory to conduct a test for dengue fever, which is widespread in Gedaref State, eastern Sudan. (AFP)
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Cholera, Dengue Fever, Malaria Outbreak in Sudan

A crowd gathered in front of a medical laboratory to conduct a test for dengue fever, which is widespread in Gedaref State, eastern Sudan. (AFP)
A crowd gathered in front of a medical laboratory to conduct a test for dengue fever, which is widespread in Gedaref State, eastern Sudan. (AFP)

Several states in Sudan have been witnessing an outbreak of dengue fever, malaria, and cholera after seventy percent of the health institutes went out of service due to the ongoing war.

The health ministry in Gedaref - the most damaged state - appealed to international organizations to provide support to eradicate dengue fever.

The cases of dengue fever, cholera, and malaria, especially in Gedaref, soared as the country faced a shortage of medicines and cadres.

Meanwhile, volunteers accused both warring parties in Khartoum of confiscating the medicines offered as aid.

Cholera has spread widely in the eastern Nile region (Khartoum Bahri), an area where many residents who have not left Khartoum still live.

Citizens from Gedaref told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that there is an outbreak of dengue fever and watery diarrhea.

Meanwhile, the ministry revealed that there are 250 watery diarrhea cases from which 15 died while there are more than 800 cases of dengue fever, and 10 of them died.

Director of the Health Emergency and Epidemic Control Department Anwar Banga announced the launching of the third campaign to eradicate dengue fever and watery diarrhea during the coming days and to radically end the pandemic.

However, he complained that there is insufficient funding whether from the government or humanitarian organizations.

Sudan Tribune newspaper quoted the spokesman for the East Nile Emergency Room in Khartoum, Moaz Shams El-Din, as saying that Alban Jaded Hospital received around 40 cholera cases in the period between 1-3 October and four of them died.

He criticized the army’s rejection of access to the medicines provided by the World Health Organization, noting that medicines were delivered to the Rapid Support Forces, highlighting the sharp shortage of medicines and medical cadres in the only operating hospital in the suburb of Hajj Youssef.

The cumulative report on dengue fever in Gezira showed about 82 cases of dengue fever between September 23-October 2, including 64 confirmed cases and two deaths, while about 62 patients were quarantined.

The Federal Minister of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, disclosed that the dengue fever epidemic is extending across eight states: Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, Al-Jazira, Sennar, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and North Darfur.



US Long-Range B-2 Stealth Bombers Target Underground Bunkers of Yemen's Houthis

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Laboon sails in the Red Sea on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Laboon sails in the Red Sea on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
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US Long-Range B-2 Stealth Bombers Target Underground Bunkers of Yemen's Houthis

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Laboon sails in the Red Sea on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Laboon sails in the Red Sea on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

US long-range B-2 stealth bombers launched airstrikes early Thursday morning targeting underground bunkers used by Yemen's Houthi militants, officials said.
It wasn't immediately clear what damage was done in the strikes.
However, it is incredibly rare for the B-2 Spirit to be used in the strikes targeting the Houthis, who have been attacking ships for months in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press said.
The Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel reported airstrikes around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. They also reported strikes around the Houthi stronghold of Saada. They offered no immediate information on damage or casualties.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement said the B-2 bombers targeted “five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.” The strike also appeared to be an indirect warning to Iran, the Houthis' main benefactor who have twice targeted Israel with ballistic missile attacks over the last year.
“This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified,” Austin said.
Austin and the US military's Central Command offered no immediate assessment on the damage done.
The Red Sea has become a battlefield for shippers since the Houthis began their campaign targeting ships traveling through the waterway, which once saw $1 trillion a year of cargo pass through it.
Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started last October. They have seized one vessel and sunk two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.
The militants maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
The Houthis also continue to launch missiles targeting Israel and have shot down a number of US military MQ-9 Reaper drones as well. The militants have threatened new attacks after Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon and its killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.