UN supports Zambia’s response to cholera outbreak

United Nations, USA | Xinhua | The UN team in Zambia is supporting the government’s response to the cholera outbreak along with ongoing severe floods that have displaced over 170,000 people in 22 districts of Zambia, said a UN spokesman on Friday.

The disaster challenges the access to basic services, like schools and hospitals. This has also impacted agriculture and livestock and destroyed critical infrastructure, like roads, bridges, schools, clinics and houses, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“Our team is providing technical support to authorities while mobilizing funding to bridge a gap of 32 million U.S. dollars for risk communication, water and sanitation, food and other items, among other needs. We are also tackling a cholera outbreak in three districts, where 90 cases and three deaths have been recorded,” said the spokesman.

Since December 2022, the UN Children’s Fund has provided 4.5 tons of granular chlorine, 20,000 bottles of liquid chlorine for household water treatment, and 250 containers of disinfectant, and other critical supplies to keep the water safe, he said.

For its part, the World Health Organization is working with authorities to strengthen assessment capacities along with surveillance, contact tracing, and lab preparations for cholera vaccination, said the spokesman.