Angola

Allocation	$1,799,874
Emergency type	Cholera
Window	Rapid Response
Recipient UN Agencies	UNICEF, WHO
Group of people targeted	Other affected persons
Number of people targeted	413,000
Status	Completed
Allocation code	CERF-AGO-25-RR-1468
Title	CERF Rapid Response: Angola May 2025 (Cholera)

Overview of the humanitarian situation

From 1 January to 26 April 2025, Angola has reported 15,843 cholera cases and 538 deaths (CFR 3.4%), affecting all age groups—over half under 20—and disproportionately men (55% of cases, 63% of deaths) across 17 provinces. In epidemiological week 17 alone (20-26 April), cases surged 25% to 2,025 and deaths rose 9% to 37, with Benguela, Luanda, Cuanza Norte, and Malanje accounting for over 85% of cases and 86.5% of deaths. Contributing factors include inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, weak health infrastructure, overcrowding, and delayed case detection, further compounded by seasonal water scarcity. Without urgent, coordinated WASH, health, and community‐engagement interventions—and strengthened surveillance and referral systems—the risk of continued transmission and high fatality will persist.

CERF-funded assistance

In response to the crisis, the Emergency Relief Coordinator allocated $1.8 million on 9 May 2025 from its Rapid Response window for the immediate commencement of life-saving activities. This funding enables UN agencies and partners to provide life-saving assistance to 413,000 people, including 103,500 women, 103,500 men, 206,000 children, and including 15,500 people with disabilities in the WASH and health sectors. This allocation has an important strategic value beyond enabling critical life-saving assistance. By embedding surveillance, case management, and WASH improvements into national and subnational systems, the CERF-supported activities contribute to leaving behind stronger public health capacities to detect and respond to future cholera outbreaks or other infectious disease threats. Additionally, a focus on risk communication and community engagement curbs current transmission and fosters lasting improvements in hygiene practices, water treatment, and care-seeking behaviors, thus reducing vulnerability to future outbreaks. Finally, by demonstrating rapid and targeted impact, this allocation helps mobilize additional funding from the government and humanitarian actors, while also leveraging in-kind contributions from local authorities, community leaders, and volunteers.

Projects included in this allocation

Organization	Project title	Code	Amount in US$
UNICEF	Early action project to provide emergency access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in cholera-affected communities in Angola	CERF-AGO-25-RR-CEF-35665	US$1,000,000	Read more
WHO	Strengthening of cholera response actions to provide emergency health assistance to cholera-affected communities in Angola	CERF-AGO-25-RR-WHO-35666	US$799,874	Read more