The European Union has released €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad to support efforts to contain the ongoing cholera outbreak in West and Central Africa.

Of the total funding, Nigeria will receive the largest share of €1.5 million to strengthen outbreak response, expand surveillance and provide essential supplies and water, sanitation and hygiene services in affected communities.

The funding was announced in a statement signed on Monday by the Press and Information Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Modestus Chukwulaka.

The intervention comes amid a sharp increase in cholera cases in Nigeria and across the African region. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 61,888 cholera cases were recorded across 16 African countries between January 1 and May 31, 2026, with 1,230 deaths.

Nigeria recorded 6,860 cases and 80 deaths during the same period, according to WHO. The agency said 5,798 new cases and 54 deaths were reported in May alone, representing a significant surge from the previous month.

Borno State was identified as the major driver of Nigeria’s outbreak as of the end of May, accounting for 5,267 cumulative cases and 49 deaths across 10 local government areas, with Maiduguri and Jere the worst affected.

Under the EU intervention, the €1.5 million allocated to Nigeria will support the deployment of additional intervention teams and the provision of cholera kits and other essential supplies.

It will also fund water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, including the treatment of public water points and household water, while strengthening epidemiological surveillance in hard-to-reach areas.

The assistance is further expected to improve case management, risk communication and community sensitisation as authorities step up efforts to prevent further transmission.

Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said the latest intervention was aimed at enabling humanitarian partners to respond quickly and protect vulnerable populations.

“Cholera is preventable and treatable. Yet it still threatens lives when people lack something as basic as safe water and healthcare,” Lahbib said.

She said the funding was particularly important at a time when humanitarian needs were increasing while available resources were becoming tighter.

“At a time when humanitarian needs are growing and resources are shrinking, Europe is not looking away. This emergency funding will help our partners act quickly, contain the outbreaks and protect the communities most at risk,” she added.

In Cameroon, €100,000 will be used to support outbreak containment and case management, including the deployment of additional humanitarian personnel, provision of essential medicines and establishment of additional cholera treatment units and oral rehydration points in badly affected communities.

The Central African Republic will receive €500,000 to expand case management and vaccination, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.

The funding will also strengthen risk communication and community engagement, surveillance and case detection, while supporting dignified and safe burials.

Chad will receive €200,000 to help break the chain of transmission by improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services, alongside community support for surveillance and case management.

The EU said the intervention was part of its broader humanitarian response to the cholera crisis in the region and was designed to support rapid action in communities most at risk.

The latest WHO data show the scale of the regional challenge. In May alone, African countries reported 14,230 new cholera cases and 201 related deaths, with Nigeria recording the highest number of new cases at 5,798 during the month.

The WHO has also cautioned that reported figures may be affected by underreporting and delays in surveillance, meaning the actual burden could be higher than the available data indicate.

Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria and is most commonly transmitted through consumption of contaminated food or water. Severe infections can cause rapid dehydration and death if treatment is delayed.

The EU intervention therefore places significant emphasis on prevention measures, particularly access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, early detection and community awareness.

The funding adds to other international efforts supporting Nigeria’s response. In June, WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies allocated $200,000 to Nigeria for cholera response activities, including outbreak coordination, surveillance, laboratory confirmation, support for treatment centres, emergency medical supplies and community engagement.