UNICEF warns that children are bearing a devastating burden in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s worst cholera outbreak in 25 years, accounting for nearly one in four of more than 64,000 cases and 1,888 deaths this year.
The outbreak has disrupted children’s education, exposed them to illness - forcing them to witness the suffering and loss of family members.
In one of the most tragic cases, 16 of 62 children living in a group home in the capital Kinshasa died within days after the disease tore through the orphanage.
"Congolese children should not be so gravely affected by what is a wholly preventable disease,” said UNICEF DRC Representative John Agbor.
“UNICEF encourages our government partners to increase investments in water, sanitation, hygiene and health services, especially in established cholera hotspots, to better protect the health and well-being of Congolese families and children.”
The share of cases involving children varies by province but averages around 23.4 per cent nationwide.
Limited access to water and sanitation services continues to drive cholera persistence in the DRC.
According to a 2024-2025 Demographic and Health Survey only 43 per cent of the population uses at least basic water services – the lowest rate in Africa – and just 15 per cent have access to basic sanitation.
The cholera crisis is further compounded by persistent conflict, displacement and insecurity in eastern DRC, which restrict access to health services.
Acute climate events including heavy rains and flooding that damage water and sanitation infrastructure, along with rapid, unplanned urbanisation that has led to overcrowded cities and overwhelmed water, sanitation and hygiene systems are adding to the situation.
In areas with little prior exposure to cholera, such as Kinshasa, low disease awareness and delays in seeking care are contributing to exceptionally high fatality rates.
UNICEF is working across multiple sectors to prevent and respond to cholera, including supporting rapid response teams that follow the Case-Area Targeted Intervention approach – a strategy that helps control outbreaks by delivering swift, targeted actions to households surrounding a confirmed case.
UNICEF also supports cholera treatment centres, leads community engagement initiatives to ensure families have the information they need to protect themselves, and works to strengthen WASH structures in schools, health centres and communities.
Through UNICEF-supported community engagement initiatives, more than 13.5 million people across the country were reached between January and October 2025 with information about how to prevent and respond to cholera.
As well as calling on the government to invest in health services, clean water and proper sanitation infrastructure, we are also appealing to our international partners for funding, especially for our rapid response,” Agbor said.
“The funding pipeline for 2026 looks very fragile, and without additional funds and coordinated action, many more lives could be lost.”
UNICEF requires about $6 million in 2026 to ensure that the cholera rapid response mechanism is properly funded.