An estimated 80,000 children are at severe risk of cholera as heavy rains sweep across West and Central Africa, exacerbating outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo  and Nigeria and raising fears of cross-border spread.

With flooding, displacement, and strained health systems worsening the crisis, UNICEF warns that urgent action is needed to prevent a devastating surge in cases. Outbreaks Spread Amid Flooding and Displacement.

Ongoing cholera epidemics in the DRC and Nigeria are heightening risks for neighboring countries, including Chad, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo.

Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon are also on high alert due to their vulnerability.The DRC is the hardest-hit nation in the region, with over 38,000 cases and 951 deaths reported in July alone—25.6% of them children under five.

High-risk provinces include South Kivu, North Kivu, and Tanganyika, where poor sanitation and limited clean water access increase vulnerability.