Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The European Commission has allocated €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to fight an ongoing cholera outbreak across Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Chad, official sources announced on Monday.
The funding comes amid rising concerns over the spread of the waterborne disease across West and Central Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the African Region recorded more than 61,000 cholera cases in the first five months of 2026.
Nigeria will receive the largest share of the aid, with €1.5 million directed toward expanding emergency intervention teams, supplying essential medical kits, and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. The funds will also support household water treatment, disease surveillance in remote areas, case management, and public awareness campaigns.
The remaining funds will be distributed among three neighboring nations:
Central African Republic: €500,000 to scale up vaccination drives, enhance case management, boost surveillance, expand WASH services, and ensure safe, dignified burials.
Chad: €200,000 to stem transmission through improved sanitation, cleaner water access, and community-led surveillance.
Cameroon: €100,000 to deploy extra ground staff, set up temporary cholera treatment units and oral rehydration stations, and supply essential medicine to hard-hit villages.
”Cholera is preventable and treatable, yet it still threatens lives when people lack something as basic as safe water and healthcare,” said Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. “At a time when humanitarian needs are growing and resources are shrinking, Europe is not looking away.”
Cholera is a severe bacterial infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. Left untreated, severe cases can lead to rapid dehydration and shock within hours. While imported cases occasionally reach Europe, health experts consider the overall risk of local transmission within the European continent to be minimal.
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