UNICEF Warns 80,000 Children at Risk as Cholera Outbreaks Sweep Across 12 West and Central African Countries.
DAKAR:
Cholera is surging across West and Central Africa, putting 80,000 children at high risk amid worsening conditions fueled by flooding, displacement, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water, UNICEF warned today.
Outbreaks have already been reported in 12 countries, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Nigeria being the epicenters. Neighbouring nations like Chad, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and the Republic of Congo are also battling active epidemics, while Niger, Benin, Liberia, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic remain on high alert.
“The heavy rains, widespread flooding, and the high level of displacement are all fuelling the risk of cholera transmission and putting the lives of children at risk,” said Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “With access to safe water and hygiene conditions already dire, urgent action is needed. This is a matter of survival.”
Crisis Deepens in the DRC
The DRC remains the hardest-hit country in the region, with over 38,000 cases and 951 deaths reported in July alone. Children under five account for more than a quarter of these cases. Provinces most affected include South Kivu, North Kivu, Haut Katanga, Tshopo, Haut Lomami, Tanganyika, and Maniema.
In Kinshasa, cholera cases have surged over the last month, triggered by torrential rains and overwhelmed infrastructure. The city’s case fatality rate has reached a dangerous 8%, prompting fears of the worst cholera crisis since 2017.
Outbreak Spreads to Chad and Nigeria
In Chad, 55 suspected cholera cases, including four deaths, have emerged in Dougui refugee camp near the Sudanese border, where displaced populations — mostly children — are enduring overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions. The presence of Vibrio cholerae has been confirmed.
Nigeria, which has faced recurring outbreaks in recent years, recorded 3,109 suspected cases and 86 deaths across 34 states as of June 2025, making it the second most affected country in the region.
Rising Cases Across the Region
- Ghana: 612 cases reported by 28 April 2025
- Côte d’Ivoire: 322 cases and 15 deaths by 14 July
- Togo: 209 cases and five deaths by 22 June
UNICEF is scaling up life-saving WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) interventions, supporting cholera vaccination, and promoting hygiene education across vulnerable communities. However, a $20 million funding gap over the next three months threatens the ability to sustain these efforts.
“We are in a race against time,” said Fagninou. “Without urgent investment in health, safe water, and nutrition, more children will die from cholera and related diseases. Together with governments and partners, we are doing everything possible to reach those most in need — especially in underserved and remote areas.”
UNICEF’s emergency response aims to provide critical medical supplies, access to clean water, and hygiene support to slow the spread and save lives — but warns that without immediate international support, the region could face a large-scale health disaster.
