Sudan, a country in North Africa, is experiencing intense conflict between the army and paramilitaries. The clash that began in April has left thousands of decomposing corpses on the streets, potentially leading to epidemics, the NGO Save the Children warned this week.

“Thousands of corpses are decomposing on the streets of Khartoum and its environs, and mortuaries are overcrowded due to power outages,” the NGO said in a statement.

More than 24 million Sudanese are in need of humanitarian assistance. – Photo: Mahmoud Türkiye/AFP

The decomposition of corpses in the streets is disturbing

For months, several NGOs have been warning about the dangers of stagnant water, which could spread epidemics of malaria, dengue and cholera.

WHO (World Health Organization) reported that cases of cholera and measles have already been identified in several regions of the country.

More than 3,900 people have already died in the war between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitaries of the FAR (Fast Support Force), according to ACLED. In addition, according to a UN report, more than 4 million have taken refuge in other countries.

“The inability to adequately bury those who have died exacerbates the suffering of families in Khartoum,” said Save the Children Health Director Bashit Kamal Eldin Hamid.

Every hour a child is injured or killed

On July 24, the war in Sudan ended for a hundred days. And it seems that the end is not near. According to the UN, every hour a child is killed or injured as a result of the conflict.

Since 15 April this year, it is estimated that 435 children have died and more than 2,000 have been injured. Hundreds of human rights violations are also recorded daily.

“Every day, minors are killed, injured, kidnapped, and all they have left is destroyed and looted schools, hospitals and infrastructure,” condemned Unicef, an agency dedicated to guaranteeing children’s rights.

Today, more than half of Sudan’s 48 million people need humanitarian assistance to survive.