Africa Live News – As torrential rains sweep across West and Central Africa, UNICEF has issued a stark warning: nearly 80,000 children are at severe risk of cholera due to widespread flooding, mass displacement, and fragile healthcare systems. The situation is deteriorating rapidly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Nigeria, with growing fears of regional spread into neighboring countries.
A Perfect Storm of Disease and Displacement
The dual burden of extreme weather and conflict-related displacement is creating ideal conditions for cholera transmission, especially in vulnerable border regions. According to UNICEF, ongoing outbreaks in the DRC and Nigeria are endangering surrounding nations, including Chad, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. Other countries such as Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon are also on heightened alert.
“The combination of heavy rains, flooding, and mass displacement is creating a perfect storm for cholera transmission,” warned Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “With safe water and hygiene already scarce, this is a fight for survival.”
DRC Battles Its Worst Cholera Outbreak in Years
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently the epicenter of the crisis, with the cholera epidemic spiraling out of control. In the month of July alone, more than 38,000 cases and 951 deaths were reported, making it one of the deadliest cholera surges the country has seen in recent years.
Alarmingly, 25.6% of the victims are children under five years of age, highlighting the disease’s disproportionate impact on the youngest and most vulnerable.
Provinces such as South Kivu, North Kivu, and Tanganyika have been hardest hit. Poor sanitation infrastructure and severely limited access to clean water are contributing to the rapid spread of the disease. In the capital city, Kinshasa, weeks of relentless rainfall have caused widespread flooding, leading to a dramatic increase in reported cases.
Hospitals in Kinshasa are now stretched to the brink, with healthcare workers overwhelmed and medical supplies running low. The case fatality rate in the capital has climbed to a worrying 8%, indicating a major strain on emergency response capabilities.
Without an urgent and comprehensive intervention, health authorities fear that the DRC could face its worst cholera outbreak since the devastating epidemic of 2017.
Nigeria: A Fragile System Faces Recurring Outbreaks
Nigeria, the second-most affected country in the region, is also struggling to contain cholera amid the rains. By the end of June, the country had recorded 3,109 cases and 86 deaths across 34 states. The disease remains endemic in many parts of Nigeria, where vulnerable communities suffer from long-standing sanitation challenges and underfunded healthcare services.
Recurring outbreaks continue to stretch Nigeria’s fragile health infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where access to clean water and basic medical care is limited. Health officials fear the situation could worsen further if the rains continue into the later months of the year.
Chad Reports Cases at Refugee Sites
In Chad, the crisis has reached refugee populations displaced by violence and conflict in neighboring Sudan. At the Dougui refugee site, located near the border, at least 55 suspected cholera cases, including four deaths, have been recorded.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria responsible for the disease. Overcrowded shelters, poor sanitation, and contaminated water supplies are putting displaced children at extreme risk.
UNICEF has raised urgent concerns over the conditions in such camps, warning that a full-blown outbreak could take hold if immediate action is not taken.
Wider Regional Risk and Need for Coordinated Action
With cholera now reported or suspected in multiple countries, experts warn of a serious risk of cross-border transmission. The interconnected nature of trade, migration, and displacement patterns in the region means that without a unified regional response, cholera could quickly spiral into a broader public health emergency.
UNICEF and its partners are calling for a rapid scale-up of emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, alongside medical aid and disease surveillance.
“Children are paying the highest price,” said Fagninou. “We must act now to prevent further loss of life.”
According to health officials, the most effective tools to combat the outbreak include:
- Providing clean drinking water to affected areas
- Deploying mobile health teams for surveillance and treatment
- Distributing hygiene kits and chlorine tablets
- Strengthening regional coordination among ministries of health
UNICEF has already begun deploying supplies and coordinating with governments in the hardest-hit areas. However, limited funding and access challenges are hampering response efforts.
Time Running Out as Rains Continue
As the rainy season deepens, time is running out to prevent a large-scale cholera disaster. Flooded roads and remote locations are making it increasingly difficult to deliver aid to isolated communities.
Health workers on the ground say the longer the delay in response, the higher the likelihood that infection rates—and death tolls—will surge dramatically.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the DRC, coupled with instability in neighboring regions, makes this outbreak particularly dangerous. “If we do not contain this now, we could see hundreds of thousands of people affected in the coming months,” warned a senior UNICEF health official involved in the regional response.
A Plea for Global Support
UNICEF is appealing to the international community for urgent funding and support to respond to the crisis before it escalates further.
“Access to safe water should not be a privilege—it is a fundamental right and the first line of defense against diseases like cholera,” said Fagninou.
In a region already grappling with conflict, economic hardship, and climate-induced disasters, this cholera outbreak is yet another reminder of the vulnerability of children in humanitarian settings. Immediate, coordinated action could mean the difference between containment and catastrophe.
Africa Live News | Reporting by Dickson Boadi
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