South Sudan Red Cross Reviews Cholera Response

(RENK COUNTY) – Humanitarian partners in South Sudan gathered in a workshop to assess the progress of the ongoing cholera response, evaluate operational performance, and identify strategies to improve outcomes in collaboration with government authorities. The event aimed to provide recommendations for future planning and strengthen community focused interventions.

The cholera outbreak was declared by the Government of South Sudan on 28 October 2024 in Renk and has since spread to most counties across the country. As of 4 August 2025, 85,794 cases and 1,489 deaths have been recorded.

Since the onset of the outbreak, the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) deployed over 8,000 volunteers nationwide to engage communities with awareness campaigns on cholera prevention. To date, 597,076 people have received prevention messages, 450,000 packets of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) have been distributed, and 36 oral rehydration points (ORP) have been established at community level.

ORPs provide immediate treatment to people showing cholera symptoms before they are referred to cholera treatment centres. Early access to rehydration, particularly in areas far from health facilities, is critical to saving lives during an outbreak.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, SSRC Secretary General John Lobor highlighted the challenges posed by floods, conflicts, limited healthcare infrastructure, and restricted access to safe water and sanitation. “Despite these hurdles, our collective efforts have led to more than 82,000 full recoveries – a testament to our resilience and coordinated response,” he said.

Dr. Kedende Chuol, Director General for Preventive Health Services at the Ministry of Health, emphasised the role of partner organisations in saving lives. “The 82,000 people saved is due to risk communication and community engagement supported by the Red Cross and other partners,” he said.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) deployed a Community Case Management Emergency Response Unit team to support the SSRC. Mohamed Babiker, IFRC Head of Cluster for South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, praised the contribution of member national societies, including personnel and technical support.

Florence Gilette, Head of Delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), stressed the need for continued coordination. “Partners must work together to complement each other,” she said. “Reaching the most vulnerable in remote areas remains a key challenge.”

The workshop concluded with a commitment to strengthen preparedness, enhance community based approaches, and foster deeper collaboration among humanitarian actors and government institutions.

Cholera Response Overview