Heatstroke Cooling Centers Activated in Port Sudan as Infections and Deaths Rise

Authorities in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan, have begun activating cooling centers for heatstroke patients until they are transferred to the hospital, amid a rise in cases and deaths.

Port Sudan, which has become densely populated following the outbreak of the conflict, suffers from power outages amid soaring temperatures, making daily life difficult, especially for those working in strenuous jobs.

The Director General of the Ministry of Health at the Red Sea State, Ahlam Abdul-Rasul, told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that “a cooling center has been activated in the Grand Market to cool heatstroke cases until they are transfered by ambulance to the Al-Taqadum Center for treatment.”

She reported that a cooling center has been activated for dock workers, and that contact has been made with partners to activate a greater number of cooling centers in all markets.

She revealed that heatstroke cases had risen to 155, including 24 deaths, as of Saturday.

Last Wednesday, authorities in Port Sudan launched a campaign to cool the city’s air by spraying the streets with water, amid soaring temperatures and a near-constant power outage that has lasted three weeks.

In the same context, a number of Port Sudan residents complained to Sudan Tribune about the power outages that continue for long hours throughout the day. They called on the authorities to work to permanently address the electricity problem in a city where temperatures soar throughout the day.