Children under 15 account for 50% of cholera cases in South Sudan and 40% in Angola
More than 178,000 cholera cases have been recorded across 16 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa between January 2024 and March 2025, according to a new UNICEF report. The outbreak, exacerbated by inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services, has resulted in nearly 2,900 deaths, with children being the most affected.
South Sudan and Angola are among the hardest-hit nations, with cases soaring daily. In South Sudan, over 40,000 cases and 694 deaths have been reported between September 28, 2024, and March 18, 2025, marking the country’s worst outbreak in 20 years.
Children under 15 account for half of the cases. Meanwhile, Angola has recorded over 7,500 cases and 294 deaths across 14 provinces between January 7 and March 18, 2025. The risk of further escalation remains high.
The Role of Unsafe Water and Poor Sanitation have exacerbated the situation and, in turn been a catalyst in fueling the crisis. A 2022 UNICEF report estimated that nearly 120 million people in Eastern and Southern Africa, including 60 million children, consume unsafe water. Additionally, the report states that 174 million people lack access to hygiene facilities at home, and 71 million people still practice open defecation.
“Investing in climate-resilient WASH infrastructure is crucial for child health and can significantly reduce costs in humanitarian settings,” said Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Climate change has entirely made the challenges more severe and intense with highly unpredictable patterns. Extreme weather events like droughts and floods have damaged essential infrastructure, depleting groundwater sources and worsening the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea.
The situation further impacts Children and Gender Disparities since contaminated water and inadequate sanitation not only cause deadly diseases but also disrupt education. Poor sanitation discourages school attendance, particularly for girls during menstruation. Notably, many girls are burdened with the responsibility of collecting water for their households, further impacting their education and well-being.
UNICEF’s Response and Call to action has echoed collaboration with governments, civil society, and communities, and is working to improve access to clean water and sanitation while promoting hygiene practices to curb disease outbreaks.
On World Water Day, UNICEF renews its commitment to supporting children in humanitarian crises but emphasizes the urgent need for increased funding and cooperation.
UNICEF urges governments and stakeholders to:
- Secure adequate funding for resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems.
- Strengthen political commitments to improve access to clean water and sanitation.
- Increase investments in climate adaptation to protect WASH services from environmental shocks.
- Enhance emergency response capacity in the WASH sector.
“Thanks to our partners, we have already reduced water supply costs by over 90%. However, sustaining these efforts requires continuous support from governments, the private sector, and individuals who believe that every child deserves a healthy future,” said Kadili.
With cholera spreading rapidly, immediate action is essential to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of life. As citizens are urged to enhance more hygiene within their households with extra safety advised when it comes to drinking and cooking water.
