Khartoum: Doctors Without Borders announced today, Saturday, the death of 24 people and the infection of more than 800 others in the state of White Nile in southern Sudan during the past three days due to a waterborne disease. The outbreak has severely impacted the region, with local healthcare facilities struggling to manage the influx of patients.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the non-governmental organization explained in a statement that the outbreak emerged following an attack on the “Umm Dabaker” power station. This incident, occurring 275 kilometers south of the capital, Khartoum, led to a significant disruption in the drinking water supply for the city of Kosti in the state of White Nile. Many families resorted to fetching water from the river using animal-drawn carts due to a major power outage in the area.

The statement further detailed that the cholera treatment centre at Kosti University Hospital has been overwhelmed with patients exhibiting severe symptoms such as diarrhoea, dehydrat
ion, and vomiting. The situation is becoming increasingly alarming, with 800 additional patients admitted to the cholera treatment centre between Wednesday and Friday.

In response to the crisis, authorities have implemented precautionary measures, including banning the collection of water from the river, closing most local restaurants, and requesting additional doses of chlorine to be added to the water distribution system. The measures aim to prevent further contamination and control the spread of the disease.