The European Commission, EU, has allocated €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, CAR, and Chad to support efforts to contain cholera outbreaks across West and Central Africa.
Nigeria receives the largest share, €1.5 million, which will be used to strengthen outbreak response teams, provide essential cholera kits and expand water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, as the region records a sharp rise in cases.
The EU announced the funding in a statement signed by Modestus Chukwulaka, Press and Information Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in Abuja on Tuesday, noting that the World Health Organization reported more than 61,000 cholera cases in the African Region in the first five months of 2026.
It said the funding for Nigeria would also support the treatment of public water points and household water supplies, as well as epidemiological surveillance in hard-to-reach areas. The funds would further strengthen case management, risk communication and community sensitization efforts.
Cameroon would receive €100,000 to support outbreak containment and case management through additional humanitarian staff, essential medicines, cholera treatment units and oral rehydration points in the worst-affected villages.
The CAR would receive €500,000 to scale up case management and vaccination, alongside water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.
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The funding would also strengthen risk communication, surveillance and case detection, while supporting dignified and safe burials.
Chad would receive €200,000 to help break the chain of transmission by improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and supporting community-based surveillance and case management.
The EU Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said the funding was critical as humanitarian needs continued to rise.
“Cholera is preventable and treatable. Yet it still threatens lives when people lack something as basic as safe water and healthcare. “At a time when humanitarian needs are growing and resources are shrinking, Europe is not looking away.
“This emergency funding will help our partners act quickly, contain the outbreaks and protect the communities most at risk,” Lahbib said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria and is primarily transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water.
In severe cases, the disease can cause rapid loss of body fluids, leading to dehydration and shock. Cholera is uncommon in Europe, where the risk of transmission from imported cases remains low.
NAN
