By Mervat Abdelqader
Sudan — Since the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, life in Khartoum has been nothing short of catastrophic. Nearly every household has lost someone, and some have been wiped out entirely.

Today, Khartoum — once a bustling capital — is described as a “ghost city.” Hospitals lie in ruins, security has collapsed, and education is paralyzed. Schools are either shuttered or have been turned into makeshift shelters for the displaced.

From the War of Bullets to the War of Epidemics
When the Sudanese army regained control of Khartoum, thousands of residents returned to what was left of their homes, hoping to rebuild their lives. Instead, they were met with an even harsher reality: no water, no electricity, a devastated health system, and outbreaks of deadly diseases never seen in the city before. The war of bullets may have ended — but a new war had begun, the war of epidemics.

Our team visited Al-Nau Hospital, the only facility that remained operational throughout the conflict despite being bombed several times. Every ward was packed — elderly patients groaning in pain, others praying simply for access to medicine. The hospital now treats patients suffering from malaria, typhoid, dengue fever, and cholera.

Dr. Marwa Mohammed reported that infection numbers continue to rise, and the death toll from disease has already surpassed that of the conflict itself.
“Those returning to Khartoum were shocked by the sheer spread of epidemics, especially dengue fever — a disease the city had never encountered before the war,” she said.

She attributed the outbreak to the unchecked spread of mosquitoes and flies due to piles of garbage and war debris scattered throughout the city. The lack of intravenous fluids and essential medicines has further worsened the crisis, despite the reopening of some health centers and the tireless efforts of medical workers.

Floods Deepen the Crisis
This year’s rainy season brought severe floods to Khartoum, destroying hundreds of homes across the state. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), flooding in Khartoum North alone displaced around 1,200 families. Government figures estimate that some 25,000 families — more than 125,000 people — have been affected since the start of the season in late September.

The floods created ideal conditions for the spread of cholera, malaria, and other vector-borne diseases. Cases of hepatitis have also begun to emerge, originating in the nearby Gezira region before spreading into the capital.

A report by the Federal Emergency Health Center confirmed that between September 17 and 21, heavy rainfall and flash floods affected three states, damaging over 1,000 homes and displacing hundreds more.

Voices from the Ground
Mai Ezz Eldin, a resident of Omdurman and a survivor of malaria and dengue fever, described the situation as “a nightmare that didn’t end with the ceasefire.”
“Even after the war, we faced another invisible enemy — disease. The city is littered with war debris and garbage, and the floods only made things worse,” she said.

Mai also condemned the sharp rise in medicine prices, accusing some suppliers of exploiting the crisis.
“People must stand together to fight these epidemics,” she urged, “because we can’t rely solely on the Ministry of Health.”

Between Decline and Denial
The Sudanese Ministry of Health has acknowledged the widespread outbreak of dengue fever but insists that the situation is under control, reporting a fatality rate of just 0.2% and claiming that 80% of cases can be treated at home. Officially, seven deaths and 3,500 confirmed infections have been recorded across five states — 74% of them in Khartoum.

However, journalist Haram Sheikh Eldin, reporting from Omdurman, challenged these figures, describing the ministry’s data as “far from reality.”
“The situation in Khartoum is catastrophic,” she said. “Medicines and IV fluids are almost impossible to find. Even when available, patients are given just one bag of saline.”

She criticized the government’s mosquito control campaigns as “weak and ineffective,” urging stronger public health measures to prevent Khartoum’s residents from bearing the full weight of both war and disease alone.