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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
News article5 February 2024Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)1 min read

EU provides €1 million to support humanitarian response to cholera outbreak in Zambia

Cooling container with several vaccines in it. A hand reaches into it to take one out.
© WHO, 2022

The Commission will provide €1 million to Zambia, to support the country in its response to the ongoing cholera epidemic, which is putting around 3.5 million people at risk.

The emergency funding will support humanitarian partners UNICEF and the WHO in their efforts to address immediate and critical needs related to Health, water, hygiene and sanitation.

As of 31 January 2024, the cumulative number of cases stood at 16,526 with 613 deaths. There is a high fatality rate of close to 4%, with most of the cases and deaths reported in Lusaka Province.

As the rainy season in the country is expected to continue until May, further floods due to heavy rains in Lusaka urban and peri-urban areas could re-ignite the spread of cases.