دقت منظمة الأمم المتحدة للطفولة (يونيسف) اليوم (الأحد) ناقوس الخطر، محذرة من تعرض أكثر من 640 ألف طفل دون سن الخامسة في شمال دارفور غربي السودان لخطر متزايد من العنف والجوع والمرض.
وأوضحت المنظمة في بيان أنه منذ اكتشاف أول حالة في 21 يونيو الماضي تم الإبلاغ عن أكثر من 1180 حالة إصابة بالكوليرا، بينها نحو 300 حالة بين الأطفال، وما لا يقل عن 20 حالة وفاة، في منطقة طويلة بولاية شمال دارفور، مشيرة إلى أن هناك ارتفاعاً سريعاً في عدد حالات النزوح إلى منطقة طويلة، وأنها استقبلت أكثر من 500 ألف شخص نزحوا بسبب النزاع العنيف.
ولفتت المنظمة إلى أنه في ولايات دارفور الخمس بلغ إجمالي حالات الإصابة بالكوليرا حتى 30 يوليو الماضي قرابة 2140 حالة، مع تسجيل ما لا يقل عن 80 حالة وفاة، مبينة أن حياة أكثر من 640 ألف طفل دون سن الخامسة معرّضة لخطر متزايد من العنف والمرض والجوع في شمال دارفور.
وقالت المنظمة إن النازحين في منطقة طويلة يواجهون ظروفاً خطيرة، مع نقص حاد في الغذاء والمياه والمأوى، وتزايد خطر تفشي الأمراض.
وقال ممثل «اليونيسف» في السودان شيلدون ييت: «رغم أن الكوليرا مرض يمكن الوقاية منه وعلاجه بسهولة، إلا أنها تنتشر بسرعة في طويلة، ومناطق أخرى من دارفور، مهددةً حياة الأطفال»، مضيفاً: «نحن نعمل بلا كلل مع شركائنا على الأرض لاحتواء التفشي وإنقاذ الأرواح، لكن العنف المستمر يزيد الاحتياجات بوتيرة أسرع مما نستطيع تلبيته».
وطالب بتغيير الوضع بشكل عاجل، والوصول إلى هؤلاء الأطفال المحتاجين الذين لا يمكنهم الانتظار يوماً آخر، مبيناً أن منظمته تسعى للحد من انتشار الكوليرا عن طريق توزيع أكثر من مليون و400 ألف جرعة لقاح.
وبلغ إجمالي الإصابات بالكوليرا 91,034، بينهم 2302 وفاة في 17 ولاية بالسودان، منذ بدء انتشار الوباء في أغسطس 2024، بحسب آخر إحصائية لوزارة الصحة السودانية.
الكوليرا تفتك بأطفال دارفور.. و«اليونيسف» تدق ناقوس الخطر
3 أغسطس 2025 - 21:02
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آخر تحديث 3 أغسطس 2025 - 21:02
الكوليرا في دارفور
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
«عكاظ» (الخرطوم) okaz_online@
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) sounded the alarm today (Sunday), warning that more than 640,000 children under the age of five in North Darfur, western Sudan, are at increasing risk of violence, hunger, and disease.
The organization stated in a statement that since the first case was discovered on June 21, more than 1,180 cases of cholera have been reported, including about 300 cases among children, and at least 20 deaths, in the Tallung area of North Darfur. It noted that there has been a rapid increase in the number of displaced persons to the Tallung area, which has received over 500,000 people displaced due to violent conflict.
The organization pointed out that in the five Darfur states, the total number of cholera cases as of July 30 reached nearly 2,140, with at least 80 deaths recorded, indicating that the lives of more than 640,000 children under the age of five are at increasing risk from violence, disease, and hunger in North Darfur.
It stated that the displaced people in the Tallung area are facing dangerous conditions, with severe shortages of food, water, and shelter, and an increasing risk of disease outbreaks.
UNICEF's representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, said: "Although cholera is a preventable and easily treatable disease, it is spreading rapidly in Tallung and other areas of Darfur, threatening children's lives." He added, "We are working tirelessly with our partners on the ground to contain the outbreak and save lives, but ongoing violence is increasing needs at a faster rate than we can meet."
He called for an urgent change in the situation and access to these needy children who cannot wait another day, indicating that his organization is working to limit the spread of cholera by distributing more than 1.4 million doses of vaccine.
The total number of cholera cases has reached 91,034, including 2,302 deaths in 17 states in Sudan, since the outbreak began in August 2024, according to the latest statistics from the Sudanese Ministry of Health.
The organization stated in a statement that since the first case was discovered on June 21, more than 1,180 cases of cholera have been reported, including about 300 cases among children, and at least 20 deaths, in the Tallung area of North Darfur. It noted that there has been a rapid increase in the number of displaced persons to the Tallung area, which has received over 500,000 people displaced due to violent conflict.
The organization pointed out that in the five Darfur states, the total number of cholera cases as of July 30 reached nearly 2,140, with at least 80 deaths recorded, indicating that the lives of more than 640,000 children under the age of five are at increasing risk from violence, disease, and hunger in North Darfur.
It stated that the displaced people in the Tallung area are facing dangerous conditions, with severe shortages of food, water, and shelter, and an increasing risk of disease outbreaks.
UNICEF's representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, said: "Although cholera is a preventable and easily treatable disease, it is spreading rapidly in Tallung and other areas of Darfur, threatening children's lives." He added, "We are working tirelessly with our partners on the ground to contain the outbreak and save lives, but ongoing violence is increasing needs at a faster rate than we can meet."
He called for an urgent change in the situation and access to these needy children who cannot wait another day, indicating that his organization is working to limit the spread of cholera by distributing more than 1.4 million doses of vaccine.
The total number of cholera cases has reached 91,034, including 2,302 deaths in 17 states in Sudan, since the outbreak began in August 2024, according to the latest statistics from the Sudanese Ministry of Health.
