The General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur reported on Saturday an alarming rise in measles cases in North Kordofan state, amid an acute shortage of medicine and deteriorating healthcare services.

The measles outbreak coincides with an unprecedented decline in health services across the region. Ongoing conflict has disrupted immunization programs and forced many health centres to close.

Adam Rejal, spokesperson for the coordination group, told Sudan Tribune that monitoring teams recorded more than 50 measles cases, including four deaths, in the Shangil Tobaya area. He noted that numbers are expected to rise due to the weak health response.