Are you aware of the latest Sudan news? The World Health Organization stated on Tuesday that there is a “high risk of biological hazard” in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. It is due to one of the combatants seizing a lab that contained dangerous chemicals like cholera and measles infections.
Despite a cease-fire between opposing forces, officials issued a warning as the news was made that more people might still leave Sudan. Sudan is currently in disarray brought on by the fighting, bringing the already highly dependent African country to the verge of collapse. Before the fighting, the UN estimated that 16 million people, or almost a third of the country’s population, needed aid; this number is sure to rise.
What is Going on in Sudan?
- North-east African country Sudan has a long history of instability. After widespread protests, the military toppled longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
- Two individuals, the army chief and his deputy rose to power after overthrowing the administration. The leader of a paramilitary organization known as the RSF also held the power.
- They disagree on how to restore civilian rule in Sudan. Despite the RSF leader’s claims to speak for underrepresented groups against the country’s elites, his forces started ethnic cleansing.
An Exodus of Mass Proportions
According to the most recent statistics from the WHO, fighting broke out between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15. The confrontation has resulted in at least 459 deaths and 4,072 injuries. Since the violence began, at least five humanitarian workers have been killed. As a result, both the World Food Program and the International Organization for Migration have stopped operating.
At least 20,000 Sudanese have fled into Chad since fighting broke out on April 15. According to UNHCR spokeswoman Olga Sarrado, 4,000 South Sudanese refugees residing in Sudan have returned after the biological hazard of Sudan news emerged. She stated that the figures might increase.
In Sudan, there are more than 800,000 South Sudanese refugees, 25% of them live in Khartoum. Khartoum is nation’s capital, where the war directly affects them. The UNHCR estimates that 1.1 million refugees are living in Sudan. Additionally, it stated that there are more than 3 million internally displaced people, most of whom are in Darfur, an area beset by protracted violence. The UN migration agency reported that the country is home to 300,000 registered migrants in addition to the refugees and tens of thousands of unregistered migrants.
What is the Impact of the Recent Sudan News?
The facility is close to Khartoum’s main airport and downtown. It is located just outside of the region that houses Sudan‘s military command center and the majority of the recent combat.
Due to Khartoum’s unique location, major strategic assets that are being attacked, like military headquarters, are located adjacent to important infrastructure. Various schools and hospitals are nearby, and the military headquarters and the airport are just next to a residential neighborhood.
Due to staff shortages, a lack of supplies, power outages, or attacks, only a small portion of Khartoum’s healthcare institutions are operating. According to the Sudanese Federal Ministry of Health, 36% of Khartoum’s medical facilities are non-operational, while another 25% are unresponsive.
War has previously had an impact on lab security. From Sudan news, we learned that US authorities issued a warning during the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine that Russian forces would capture control of public and animal health labs, posing a risk of diseases escaping. Additionally, during the battle, nuclear power stations and other sensitive infrastructure have been hit by bullets.
