In brief
At least five children and three adults succumbed to cholera while attempting to reach a health facility in South Sudan after crucial aid cuts by the Trump administration led to the closure of local clinics during a significant cholera outbreak.
At least five children and three adults with cholera died during their desperate search for care in South Sudan following cuts to U.S. aid under the Trump administration. According to the charity Save the Children, these tragic fatalities occurred after the victims made a challenging three-hour trek in extreme heat to find the nearest operating health facility. The financial reductions implemented in January forced a closure of seven out of 27 health clinics supported by the charity in the Akobo County region, while another 20 facilities were only partially operational. As a result, many clinics now operate with minimal volunteer staff and lack essential resources to transport sick individuals to hospitals.Christopher Nyamandi, Save the Children’s country director for South Sudan, shared alarming observations about the deteriorating conditions when he visited a clinic in Akobo shortly after the aid cuts. He reported that tents meant for 25 individuals were overcrowded, housing hundreds, while many others were forced to sleep outside, exposed to harsh temperatures and disease-carrying mosquitoes as they struggled to recover from cholera.Mr. Nyamandi expressed concern for healthcare workers who find themselves in a heartbreaking predicament when facing death on-site, doing their best to shield the remaining children from the devastating reality. The current situation starkly illustrates the urgent need for aid and intervention as South Sudan grapples with dual crises of cholera and the fallout of reduced support.
