UN says 80,000 children face cholera risk in West and Central Africa

An estimated 80,000 children are vulnerable to cholera in West and Central Africa amid ongoing outbreaks and the onset of heavy rains, according to the United Nations.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said during a press briefing on Wednesday that active cholera outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria pose a serious risk of cross-border transmission to neighbouring countries.

Chad, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Togo are already battling epidemics, while countries such as Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic and Cameroon are under close watch due to heightened vulnerability, according to Haq, citing data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In eastern and southern Africa between January 2024 and March 2025, there were more than 178,000 cases of cholera and nearly 2,900 deaths, according to UNICEF.

UNICEF has responded by delivering essential health, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to treatment centres and local communities. In addition to supporting cholera vaccination campaigns, the agency is promoting hygiene awareness and urging families in affected areas to seek medical care promptly.

However, the UN warned that a more robust and immediate response is required.

“Urgent and scaled-up efforts are needed to prevent further spread and contain the disease,” Haq said.

To strengthen emergency operations over the next three months, UNICEF’s West and Central Africa office is seeking $20 million to expand support in health, water, sanitation, risk communication and community outreach.

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