UNICEF has raised alarm over a sharp rise in cholera cases across Eastern and Southern Africa, with over 178,000 confirmed infections reported in 16 countries between January 2024 and March 2025. The outbreak, driven by limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, has claimed nearly 2,900 lives, many of them children.
South Sudan and Angola are facing the worst of the crisis. In South Sudan, children under 15 account for 50% of cases, while in Angola, they make up 40%. Between September 2024 and March 2025, South Sudan recorded over 40,000 cases and 694 deaths, marking its worst cholera outbreak in two decades. Angola has reported more than 7,500 cases and 294 deaths since January 2025, with risks of further escalation.
The crisis is worsened by a severe shortage of clean water. Data from 2022 revealed that nearly 120 million people in the region, half of them children, consume unsafe water. Approximately 22% of the population lacks access to clean water, while 174 million people do not have hygiene facilities at home. Additionally, at least 71 million people still practice open defecation, further increasing the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid.
Climate change has exacerbated the situation, with floods and droughts damaging water infrastructure and depleting groundwater sources. The lack of proper sanitation also disrupts education, especially for girls, who face additional challenges during menstruation. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, as they bear the burden of fetching water for their households.
To combat the crisis, UNICEF is collaborating with governments, civil society, and communities to improve access to clean water and sanitation. Marking World Water Day, the organization called for urgent action, including increased funding for water and sanitation systems, political commitments to expand safe water access, greater investment in climate adaptation, and enhanced emergency response capacity.
“Investing in climate-resilient WASH infrastructure is crucial for child well-being and cost-effective in humanitarian crises,” said Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF’s Regional Director. “But we cannot do it alone. We need governments, the private sector, and individuals to join us in ensuring every child has a future.”
