Sudan reports 2,302 deaths from cholera since July 2024: health ministry

Cholera is hitting hard in Sudan, as the Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday 91,034 cholera cases, including 2,302 deaths, across 116 localities in 17 states, since the outbreak of the epidemic last July.

Between July 12 and 18, a total of 1,307 cholera cases were recorded, including 18 deaths, across 35 localities in 12 states, the ministry said in a statement.

Tawila locality in North Darfur State recorded the highest number of infections with 519 cases during the week, while Bileil locality in South Darfur State reported the highest number of deaths, according to the ministry.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently warned that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening amid the deadly cholera outbreak, floods, and mass returns to underserved areas.

Sudan is experiencing a seasonal outbreak of several diseases, particularly those associated with the rainy season, including malaria, cholera, and dengue fever.

The country also remains gripped by a conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country's humanitarian crisis.

At present, 70 to 80 percent of medical institutions in the conflict areas of Sudan are unable to operate normally, and more than 250 hospitals across the country have been forced to close.

Sudan reports 2,302 deaths from cholera since July 2024: health ministry

Sudan reports 2,302 deaths from cholera since July 2024: health ministry

Sudan reports 2,302 deaths from cholera since July 2024: health ministry

Sudan reports 2,302 deaths from cholera since July 2024: health ministry

Sudan reports 2,302 deaths from cholera since July 2024: health ministry

Sudan reports 2,302 deaths from cholera since July 2024: health ministry

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media