The European Commission has allocated emergency humanitarian funding of €1 million to South Sudan, to support the country in its efforts to address the ongoing cholera epidemic.
The South Sudan authorities declared an epidemic on 28 October 2024 for the northern town of Renk, the main entry point for thousands of refugees and returnees fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan. As of 12 November 2024, 157 cumulative cases and 2 deaths have been reported.
The emergency humanitarian funding will support the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the health response, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), so that they can address immediate and critical needs. These include coordination, surveillance and case management, provision of supplies and the roll-out of vaccination campaigns for health; water treatment and supply, sanitation, prevention and control for WASH.
Background
More than 860,000 people have entered South Sudan since 2023 and the start of the conflict in neighbouring Sudan – where a large cholera outbreak is currently ongoing. Malnutrition among the refugees, returnees and local population is an aggravating factor in the spread of the disease. At least 7.1 million people living in South Sudan were estimated to have been severely food insecure at the peak of the lean season between July and September 2024. The situation is exacerbated by South Sudan’s weak health system, further strained due to the influx of refugees and returnees from Sudan.
