Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cholera outbreak reported by the United Nations as affecting 27 localities across seven states with 78 associated deaths, with more than 3 million people estimated to be at risk by the end of the year.

Due to the ongoing conflict, Sudan continues to grapple with mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. The health system has been overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and the scarcity of medical supplies, equipment, health workers and operational funds. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Sudan with cholera treatments (including antibiotics, oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids and rapid diagnostic tests), in addition to providing direct support to cholera isolation centres. The UK is funding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and health activities in Sudan via the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). With support from WHO and health partners, the Ministry of Health is coordinating efforts (in areas of the country that are still accessible) to scale up access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as ensuring affected and at-risk communities are aware of transmission risks and proper hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks and prevent further spread of the outbreak. We are supporting the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (WHO), and will deploy a Senior Epidemiologist to assist with coordination efforts to bolster the national response. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.