Refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan are now facing a deadly cholera outbreak in overcrowded camps, with many relying on nothing more than lemons as a desperate form of medicine.

Aid agencies report that thousands of displaced people, already weakened by weeks or months of food shortages and unsafe drinking water, are now at risk as cholera spreads rapidly through settlements lacking basic sanitation. Health workers warn that without immediate medical intervention, the death toll could climb sharply in the coming weeks.

In some of the hardest-hit camps, residents say they have no access to rehydration salts, antibiotics, or intravenous fluids — the standard treatments for cholera. Instead, many are turning to traditional remedies, squeezing lemon juice into water in hopes it will kill the bacteria or ease symptoms. While lemons can provide some vitamin C and mild antimicrobial properties, experts caution they are not a substitute for proper medical care, and relying solely on them could prove fatal for severe cases.

Humanitarian organizations are struggling to respond due to insecurity in border areas, funding shortages, and the overwhelming number of people in need. Clean water supplies, emergency latrines, and cholera treatment centers are urgently required to contain the outbreak.

The United Nations has appealed for more international support, warning that the situation is a “public health emergency layered on top of a humanitarian catastrophe.” With conflict still forcing thousands to flee their homes, aid workers fear the crisis could spiral beyond control unless swift action is taken.