The European Commission has allocated €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad to support efforts to contain ongoing cholera outbreaks.

The funding, announced on Monday, is aimed at strengthening outbreak response, improving access to safe water and sanitation, and supporting affected communities.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 61,000 cholera cases were reported across the African Region in the first five months of 2026.

Nigeria gets €1.5m

Nigeria will receive the largest share of the funding, with €1.5 million earmarked for the country’s cholera response.

The money will be used to increase the number of intervention teams, provide essential supplies including cholera kits, and strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene measures.

The EU said the support will also cover the treatment of public water points and household water, while helping intensify epidemiological surveillance in hard-to-reach areas.

It will further support case management, risk communication and community sensitisation.

The development comes as several Nigerian states continue to respond to rising cholera cases. In Plateau State, authorities recently intensified containment measures after reporting 537 cases and 17 deaths.

Other countries receive funding

Cameroon will receive €100,000 to support outbreak containment and case management, including additional healthcare personnel, medicines, cholera treatment units and oral rehydration points in affected communities.

The Central African Republic will receive €500,000 to scale up case management and vaccination, alongside water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. The funding will also strengthen surveillance, community engagement and safe burials.

Chad will receive €200,000 to help break the chain of cholera transmission through improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as community support for surveillance and case management.

The EU Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said cholera remains a preventable and treatable disease but continues to threaten communities without access to safe water and healthcare.

The funding, she said, would enable humanitarian partners to respond quickly, contain outbreaks and protect vulnerable communities.

Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria and is commonly transmitted through contaminated food or water. Severe infections can cause rapid dehydration and shock.