Juba, South Sudan-The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has scaled up its response to the ongoing cholera outbreak in South Sudan with the recent reception of essential water purification tablets, commonly known as Aqua Tabs. These critical supplies are part of a coordinated effort of the Core humanitarian pipeline to curb the spread of cholera, which has been exacerbated by flooding, limited access to clean water, and constrained health services.

Since the declaration of the outbreak by the South Sudan Ministry of Health in October 28, 2024, IOM has reached thousands of individuals with emergency assistance. However, the need remains immense. Through its health efforts, IOM established 16 Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) across Upper Nile and Unity State providing support to 3,934 individuals.

“With support from the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, we are working tirelessly to provide critical health and sanitation services to the most vulnerable populations,” said MUHAMMAD Asar, IOM’s Head of Operations. “Together, we are striving to alleviate the suffering of those affected by cholera, particularly within the internally displaced sites  and  mitigate the impact of this crisis, save lives amidst these challenging circumstances.” He added.

IOM has also scaled up its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions as part of the response by providing clean, safe, and sufficient water in key areas such as at the Renk transit center, the IDP Camp, and Sites in Bentiu and Malakal where IOM is the main actor in providing water to the vulnerable communities. Additionally, IOM is expanding emergency water supply interventions to encompass parts of nearby towns of Rubkona, Bentiu, and Malakal, with a particular focus on health facilities, Cholera Treatment Centers (CTC), Oral Rehydration Centers (ORC) and other identified cholera hotspot areas lacking access to reliable water resources. Disinfection campaigns and community hygiene awareness programs focusing on handwashing, safe water handling, and cholera prevention measures have also been activated in displacements and high-risk areas.

IOM’s response is closely coordinated with the Government of South Sudan through the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other humanitarian actors to ensure a unified and effective approach to tackling the crisis. IOM will continue to support the government and calls on the international community to scale up support for South Sudan’s health system and affected communities

IOM’s response to cholera has been supported by the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA)

For media inquiries, please contact:  Cyprine Cheptepkeny, ccheptekeny@iom.int  Tel: +211-921574998 or Nabie Loyce  on  Email: nloyce@iom.int Tel: +211 912380115,