Dozens of residents who escaped the besieged town of al-Hilaliya in Sudans El Gezira state have tested positive for cholera, a likely cause of the reported mass deaths in the area.
While local activists report over 300 fatalities, a group of residents in the diaspora has provided a list of more than 400 deaths, a number that continues to rise.
The siege of al-Hilaliya began on October 29 when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces RSF attacked the town, home to tens of thousands of locals and displaced people.
This was part of a broader campaign in East Gezira, in retaliation for the defection of a senior RSF commander to the army. The RSF raid resulted in at least 15 deaths from gunfire, according to activists.
As news of the fatalities spread, rumors circulated about whether the RSF had intentionally poisoned residents. However, the increasing number of cholera cases among those who escaped suggests the outbreak may be the primary cause of death. Medics reported that after being forced from their homes, many residents took refuge in the courtyards of three mosques.
The RSF had looted homes, stealing money, cars, and livestock, and destroyed vital infrastructure, including solar panels and electrical wiring used for water extraction. This left many residents relying on an old, neglected well, which may have become contaminated with sewage, contributing to the cholera outbreak.
