The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that nearly 80,000 children across West and Central Africa face a high risk of cholera as heavy rains and flooding intensify the spread of the disease.
In a statement released Wednesday, UNICEF said active outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria are fueling a growing threat of cross-border transmission to neighboring countries.
The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the epicenter of the crisis, with health authorities reporting more than 38,000 cases and 951 deaths by July. Children under five account for over a quarter of all cases, UNICEF noted. Other countries currently battling outbreaks include Chad, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo.
“With access to safe water and hygiene conditions already dire, urgent action is needed,” warned Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF’s regional director for West and Central Africa. “Heavy rains, widespread flooding and the high level of displacement are fueling cholera transmission and putting the lives of children at risk. This is a matter of survival.”
Young children are particularly vulnerable to cholera because of unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene, and a higher risk of severe dehydration.
UNICEF has appealed for $20 million to scale up its emergency response over the next three months, including providing clean water, sanitation, medical care and community outreach to stop the spread of the disease.