Children at Risk as Cholera Spreads Across West, Central Africa

At least 80,000 children have been estimated to be at high risk of cholera in West and Central Africa as the rainy season begins across the region, said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Heavy rains, flooding, and widespread displacement were fueling the spread of the disease, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Nigeria. In July, there were over 38,000 cases in the DRC and 951 deaths. Intensive rainfall and widespread flooding in Kinshasa have caused the number of cases to surge sharply, making the situation particularly critical.

Nigeria is the second most affected country in the region, with 3,109 suspected cholera cases and 86 deaths as of the end of June. Cholera is endemic in the country, where major outbreaks have reoccurred in recent years. Chad, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo are also facing ongoing epidemics.

UNICEF responded by delivering lifesaving health, water, and sanitation supplies, supporting vaccinations, and intensifying community outreach efforts. UNICEF West and Central Africa urgently requires $20 million over the next three months to scale up critical support in health, WASH, and risk communication and community engagement.