Urgent Call to Address Cholera Crisis in Eastern and Southern Africa

UNICEF reports over 178,000 cholera cases in Eastern and Southern Africa from January 2024 to March 2025, leading to nearly 2,900 deaths, predominantly affecting children. Poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services exacerbates this health crisis, particularly in South Sudan and Angola. UNICEF advocates for enhanced funding and action to improve infrastructure and access to safe water.

According to UNICEF, over 178,000 cholera cases have been reported across 16 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa from January 2024 to March 2025. The outbreak, exacerbated by limited water, sanitation, and hygiene services, has led to approximately 2,900 fatalities, many of whom are children. The regions have witnessed devastating impacts due to inadequate access to safe water, especially during extreme weather events and health crises.

Among the countries affected, South Sudan and Angola have experienced significant outbreaks. In South Sudan, children under 15 represent half of all cases, with over 40,000 reported between September 2024 and March 2025, marking the worst outbreak in two decades. Angola has noted over 7,500 cases and 294 deaths within the same timeframe, indicating a high potential for further escalation.

The latest data exposes a critical situation, where nearly 120 million individuals, including 60 million children, consume unsafe water in the region, and about 22% lack any access to water. Additionally, 174 million people lack adequate hygiene facilities at home, and at least 71 million have to resort to open defecation. Such circumstances increase the vulnerability of children to diseases like cholera, which persists in more than half of these countries.

Waterborne diseases can cause severe health issues, including diarrhea and typhoid, undermining children’s school attendance, especially girls during menstruation. Moreover, water scarcity disproportionately impacts girls, who typically undertake the responsibility of water collection for their families.

UNICEF collaborates with local partners, governments, and communities to enhance clean water access, reliable sanitation, and encourage hygiene practices that safeguard children’s health. Ahead of World Water Day, UNICEF emphasizes its ongoing support to children facing humanitarian crises amid declining funding.

UNICEF calls for immediate government action on several fronts: increased funding to establish resilient water systems, political commitments to enhance sanitation access for families in need, investment in climate resilience, and improved emergency response capabilities for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.

“Investing in climate-resilient WASH infrastructure is crucial for child wellbeing and offers significant cost savings,” asserted UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli. Continued collaboration with governments, the private sector, and dedicated individuals is vital to ensuring a sustainable future for the region’s children and maintaining progress made thus far.

The cholera outbreak in Eastern and Southern Africa has reached alarming proportions, with over 178,000 cases confirmed and a significant impact on children’s health, particularly in South Sudan and Angola. The data reflects a critical need for improved water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, particularly under the strain of climate change. UNICEF’s call for increased funding and political commitment highlights the urgent measures necessary to combat the ongoing crisis and protect future generations.

Original Source: reliefweb.int