Children in El-Obeid, Sudan face catastrophe as cholera outbreak intensifies

31 July 2026 - Hundreds of thousands in El-Obeid, Sudan, face humanitarian catastrophe as deadly cholera outbreak spreads in the city, alongside disastrous food and drinking water shortages. Plan International is calling for urgent international action to protect children in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, Sudan. Following months of prolonged hostilities in the region, the humanitarian situation in El-Obeid is on the brink of turning into a catastrophe. A deadly outbreak of cholera is tearing parts of the city following extensive damage to health centres and sanitation infrastructure, which is compounded by rains and poor sanitation conditions in the sites hosting displaced people in the city. Meanwhile, civilians in El-Obeid and North Kordofan continue to face disastrous food and drinking water shortages, with hundreds of thousands across the state having dangerously little to eat according to the UN. El-Obeid is home to a rapidly growing number of displaced people who have fled some of the worst of the fighting in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which started in 2023 and has caused the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world today. Children face death from disease and hunger Without an immediate and drastic increase in humanitarian aid reaching the city, many children face death from disease and extreme hunger. Mohamed Kamal, Country Director for Plan International Sudan said: “In the past weeks, our staff on the ground have reported deteriorating humanitarian conditions for a large number of children and their families in El-Obeid. “Cholera is tearing through certain communities in the city, with the outbreak being compounded by incessant rains and recent drone strikes that have crippled critical medical facilities and left thousands without access to urgent treatment and life-saving medications. “Food supplies in the city are running low, clean water is scarce and every night we hear of horrific instances of sexual violence against girls and women at isolated water collection points. Dangerously overcrowded displacement camps are largely devoid of basic facilities, but hundreds who have nowhere else to go continue to arrive every day. “The situation facing children is particularly dangerous – they are far more susceptible to disease, some face the prospect of recruitment by armed groups, and they are experiencing lasting psychological trauma as drone strikes and explosive weapons turn family homes into zones of fear. “We are especially alarmed for girls in El-Obeid, who are facing heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence and are almost always the ones who eat last and least when extreme hunger hits. Humanitarian situation rapidly worsening “During this rainy season Plan International continues to respond with life-saving support for children and their families in El-Obeid, but the disruption to power, water and food supplies – along with severe restrictions on humanitarian access to the city – is rapidly worsening an already desperate humanitarian situation. “Furthermore, drastic cuts to overseas aid spending from the world’s wealthiest governments means organisations like ours have far fewer resources to save lives with, despite humanitarian needs continuing to skyrocket in El-Obeid and across all of Sudan. “Thousands of children’s lives are at risk in El-Obeid. We need a humanitarian pause in hostilities in Sudan, along with immediate, unhindered access for humanitarian workers to save lives. Every day without this costs children’s lives.” Sudan appeal Categories: Emergencies Tags: Child protection in emergencies, Food crisis, Migrant and displaced children Related pages Sudan appeal Help us get support to children and families who are caught up in conflict between armed groups in Sudan. Read more Sudan at 1000 days of conflict As the conflict reaches 1000 days, Nahid Ali urges us to not forget Sudan. Read more See all posts Fatima’s story: A child’s hope amid Sudan’s crisis 10-year-old Fatima has been displaced internally in Sudan due to conflict. Despite it all, she has hope for peace. Read more See all case studies Share