Zambia
Cholera, 21 Feb 2024
| Allocation | $2,528,290 |
|---|---|
| Emergency type | Cholera |
| Window | Rapid Response |
| Recipient UN Agencies | UNICEF, WHO |
| Group(s) of people targeted | Host communities, Refugees, Other affected persons |
| Number of people targeted | 1,086,297 |
| Status | Completed |
| Allocation code | 24-RR-ZMB-63502 |
| Title | Zambia RR Application Feb 2024 (Cholera) |
Overview of the humanitarian situation
Zambia is facing one of its worst cholera outbreaks in two decades. The outbreak began in October 2023, but transmission increased significantly in Lusaka in the first week of January – likely due to travel over the Christmas period. During that period, the Ministry of Health reported an increase of 71% in cases and 175% in deaths. While case numbers had stabilized in Lusaka as of early 2024, they had increased in rural districts over the first two weeks of January. Cholera is now present in all ten provinces. As of 25 January, the Zambia National Public Health Institute had recorded a total of 14,116 confirmed cases and 534 deaths. The Case Fatality Rate was nearly 4%, which is almost four times higher than the 1% emergency threshold. The Ministry of Health was reporting more than 400 cases a day. UNICEF has alerted that around 48% of all cases are children under 15. Children under five account for 32% of all cases. All schools had been closed to reduce transmission. There was a risk of a nationwide crisis due to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructures in rural areas as well as limited response capacities.
CERF-funded assistance
The $2.5 million Rapid Response allocation from CERF addresses the multi-sectoral needs of 1.06 million people in response to cholera in Zambia. The CERF response aims to support the affected people and communities through a multi-sectoral response targeting the Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sectors.The assistance will be delivered by UNICEF and WHO.
Projects included in this allocation
| Organization | Project title | Code | Amount in US$ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNICEF | Multi-sectoral integrated intervention in cholera affected communities | 24-RR-CEF-007 | US$1,978,290 | Read more |
| WHO | Rapid Emergency response to minimize the incidence and mortality associated with cholera in the Lusaka districts by halting the spread of the disease and preventing its extension to unaffected areas | 24-RR-WHO-003 | US$550,000 | Read more |