The World Health Organization just declared there is a substantial possibility of a biological threat in Sudan’s capital city, Khartoum.
This announcement comes shortly after the US military started a rescue operation to remove more than 70 US government officials in Sudan, due to violence involving the Sudanese armed forces and Rapid Support Forces.
Dangerous Materials Unsecured
The biohazard alert was issued after one of the battling military groups took control of a facility that contained dangerous, contagious germs like cholera and measles.
Nima Saeed Abid from the WHO said the primary issue is laboratory technicians are not able to get into the National Public Health Laboratory and secure the biological materials.
#BREAKING 'Huge biological risk' after Sudan fighters occupy lab: WHO pic.twitter.com/BGPnhlyWK8
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 25, 2023
Based on the most recent information that the World Health Organization has been able to provide, since the fighting erupted on April 15th, a minimum of 459 people have lost their lives and an additional 4,072 individuals have been injured.
The two highest generals of Sudan are at odds with one another over control of the country and violence has very abruptly exploded as a result.
WHO warns of Sudan biohazard as lull in fighting allows more to flee https://t.co/MEv5zcTwEG
— Jeffrey A. Setaro (@jasetaro) April 25, 2023
According to many accounts, however, the conflict had been building for a while.
The global community invested years in establishing the two military foes as political actors and gave them the task of completing a democratic transition, despite numerous indications they had no desire of doing so.
Sudan Falls to Violence
The two generals toyed with a settlement in the weeks prior to the conflict’s start in an effort to settle their outstanding differences, mostly about reforming the security sector and the RSF’s incorporation into the army, and advance the nation into a long-anticipated, civilian-led democracy.
They promised to transfer authority during a meeting with international mediators. However, tanks and troop carriers could be seen moving through the streets of Khartoum, reinforcing and bolstering both sides of the conflict.
This article appeared in The Patriot Brief and has been published here with permission.
