Cholera Outbreak in Eastern and Southern Africa: UNICEF Reports Alarming Statistics
UNICEF reports over 178,000 cholera cases and nearly 2,900 deaths in Eastern and Southern Africa from January 2024 to March 2025. The outbreak is largely affecting children, particularly in South Sudan and Angola, due to poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. UNICEF emphasizes the need for increased funding, political commitment, and climate-resilient infrastructure to protect children and improve health outcomes.
UNICEF has reported over 178,000 confirmed cases of cholera across 16 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa from January 2024 to March 2025. This crisis, exacerbated by inadequate access to water, sanitation, hygiene, and health services, has led to nearly 2,900 fatalities, significantly impacting children. UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli, emphasized the crucial need for safe water access, declaring it a fundamental human right essential for children’s survival and development.
South Sudan and Angola are experiencing the most severe cholera outbreaks, with children under 15 representing 50% of cases in South Sudan and 40% in Angola. From September 28, 2024, to March 18, 2025, South Sudan reported over 40,000 cholera cases, marking its worst outbreak in 20 years with 694 deaths. Angola’s figures from January to March 2025 indicate over 7,500 cases and 294 deaths, raising concerns about further escalation of the disease.
2022 data revealed that nearly 120 million individuals, including 60 million children, consume unsafe drinking water in Eastern and Southern Africa, with approximately 22% of the population lacking any access. The absence of sufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene services affects 174 million individuals, with at least 71 million resorting to open defecation. These challenges, coupled with climate-related impacts such as severe droughts and floods, pose increased risks of disease outbreaks including cholera.
Unsafe drinking water can lead to severe infections and waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid, jeopardizing child health and school attendance, particularly for girls. Girls often face additional burdens as they are typically responsible for fetching water. UNICEF collaborates with various partners to enhance access to clean water and promote hygiene practices that protect children from infectious diseases.
On the occasion of World Water Day, UNICEF reiterated its commitment to assisting children in humanitarian conditions amidst reduced funding that threatens child survival. Moreover, the organization calls on governments and stakeholders to prioritize measures such as adequate funding for resilient systems, high-level political commitments, and increased investments in climate change adaptation to bolster essential services including water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Kadilli stated, “Investing in climate-resilient WASH infrastructure is crucial for child wellbeing and offers significant cost savings, particularly in humanitarian situations.” She asserted the importance of maintaining investments to avoid losing progress made for children, emphasizing a collective commitment from governments, the private sector, and individuals to secure a future for every child.
In summary, the cholera outbreak in Eastern and Southern Africa, marked by significant cases and fatalities, underscores the urgent need for improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services. UNICEF’s commitment to addressing these challenges is evident through its partnership strategies and calls for enhanced investments and political actions. The participation of governments and individuals in supporting resilient and sustainable infrastructure is critical to the wellbeing of millions of affected children, ensuring their access to essential services crucial for their survival.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
