In brief
At least five children and three adults have succumbed to cholera while seeking medical help after recent U.S. aid cuts forced health facilities to close in South Sudan.
Children seeking cholera treatment in South Sudan tragically lost their lives after navigating a three-hour trek in extreme heat to find the nearest functioning health center. This situation arose following substantial cuts to aid by the U.S. government, which severely weakened the capacity of local clinics during an unprecedented cholera outbreak.The charity Save the Children reported that the cuts imposed by the Trump administration in January led to the closure of seven out of 27 health facilities they supported in Akobo County, with many others operating on reduced capacity. Volunteers, lacking resources, are now the backbone of these weakened clinics with no means to transport critically ill patients to hospitals.Christopher Nyamandi, Save the Children’s country director for South Sudan, provided a grim overview of conditions at the health facilities during a visit shortly after the funding cuts. He observed overwhelming numbers of patients crammed into tents designed for 25, forcing many vulnerable individuals to sleep outdoors, exposed to harsh environmental conditions that exacerbate their health crises.Healthcare workers on the ground expressed deep distress at the situation, particularly concerning the deaths that occur in such dire circumstances. Nyamandi highlighted the emotional burden on staff who strive to shield children from witnessing the loss of their peers as they cope with the unfolding tragedy. The situation reflects a broader pattern of increasing difficulty for millions in South Sudan, where the compounded challenges of war and malnutrition have amplified the deadly impact of recent cholera outbreaks.
