Khartoum: More than 640,000 children in North Darfur, Sudan, are currently at risk from the spread of cholera, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned.

According to Lao News Agency, the disease poses a significant threat to children who are already suffering from hunger and displacement. Aid convoys face challenges reaching isolated communities due to escalating conflict in the region.

UNICEF reported that over 1,180 cases of cholera, including around 300 children, have been identified, along with at least 20 fatalities in Tawila. This city has seen an influx of over half a million individuals escaping violence since April.

The situation is even more critical across the broader Darfur region, with nearly 2,140 cases and at least 80 deaths recorded as of July 30. UNICEF’s Representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, expressed concern over the preventable nature of cholera, emphasizing its impact on the most vulnerable populations.

UNICEF stressed the urgent need for sustained, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access to address the outbreak. The cholera outbreak was officially declared in August 2024.