UNICEF and WHO Warn Cholera Outbreak in South Sudan Threatens Hundreds of Thousands of Children

UNICEF and the World Health Organization have issued urgent health warnings as a prolonged cholera outbreak in South Sudan continues to threaten children’s lives, especially amid flooding and a surge of refugees fleeing war in neighboring Sudan.

The outbreak, first declared in October 2024, has persisted for more than a year and remains one of the longest and most difficult to control in South Sudan’s history. Health officials say conditions such as stagnant water, damaged sanitation systems and ongoing displacement have created ideal conditions for the disease to spread. According to recent reporting, tens of thousands of cases have been recorded nationwide, and the fragile health system is under intense strain.

Children are disproportionately affected. A UNICEF cholera situation update from early 2025 showed that nearly half of all suspected cases were in children under the age of 14, with very young children among those most at risk of severe dehydration — a life-threatening complication of the disease.

Flooding across large parts of the country, particularly in low-lying states like Jonglei and Unity, has worsened the crisis by overwhelming water and sanitation infrastructure and displacing communities. More than 1.4 million people were affected by floods in 2024 alone, hampering access to clean water and hygiene services crucial for preventing cholera transmission.

The situation is further compounded by population movements tied to the conflict in neighbouring Sudan. Large numbers of refugees and returnees have entered South Sudan over the past year, stretching already limited humanitarian resources. These movements increase contact between exposed and susceptible populations, raising the risk of disease spread.

WHO’s recent health emergency appeal highlights overlapping crises in South Sudan, including conflict, natural disasters and multiple disease outbreaks that stretch the nation’s capacity to respond. The appeal says millions need urgent health assistance this year as services face shortages and disrupted supply chains.

UNICEF has been leading efforts to provide emergency treatment, water and sanitation support, and vaccination where feasible, but gaps remain significant. Funding shortfalls for cholera response mean critical supplies and outreach programmes are underfunded, even as agencies work to reach remote and displaced communities.

Health partners stress that without sustained funding and improved access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare, children remain at extreme risk. They say immediate action is needed to bolster emergency response teams, protect vulnerable communities and contain the outbreak before it spreads more widely.