The International Rescue Committee (IRC):

Why in News?  The ongoing cholera outbreak in Khartoum, Sudan, has claimed 70 lives in just two days, with 942 new infections and 25 deaths reported recently, following 1,177 cases and 45 deaths on Tuesday. This rapid surge highlights the dire state of the region’s health and sanitation infrastructure.

Root Causes and Challenges:

• The outbreak is exacerbated by the collapse of essential services such as water and electricity, largely attributed to drone strikes allegedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The ongoing two-year conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF has rendered up to 90% of hospitals in conflict zones non-operational, crippling Khartoum’s healthcare system.
• Since August 2024, Sudan has reported over 65,000 cholera cases and 1,700 deaths across 12 states.
• Khartoum alone has witnessed 7,700 cases, including over 1,000 in children under five, underscoring the vulnerability of young lives amidst this crisis.

Humanitarian Concerns:

• The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has issued a warning about an impending public health disaster fueled by conflict, displacement, and the lack of clean water. With the rainy season approaching, conditions are expected to worsen, further endangering already vulnerable populations.
• UNICEF reports that over one million children in Khartoum are at risk due to the deteriorating living conditions.

About the International Rescue Committee (IRC):

• Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC is a global humanitarian organization dedicated to responding to the world’s most severe crises.
• It provides emergency relief, healthcare, clean water, education, and livelihood support to those affected by conflict, disaster, and displacement.