The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world's supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers, and mobile phones.
Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with its most devastating cholera outbreak in a quarter-century, with close to 2,000 lives lost since January, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed on Monday. The agency warns that the crisis is escalating rapidly, hitting children the hardest.
In one shocking incident detailed by UNICEF, 16 out of 62 children in a Kinshasa orphanage died within days after the disease swept through the facility. The tragedy underscores the scale of the emergency unfolding across the country.
UNICEF spokesperson, John Agbor, expressed deep concern over the severity of the outbreak, saying: “Congolese children should not be so gravely affected by what is a wholly preventable disease.”
Cholera, a fast-spreading and potentially fatal infection, thrives where sewage systems are poor and access to clean drinking water is limited — conditions that have worsened in Congo due to conflict, displacement and decades of underdevelopment.
African health authorities already raised an alarm in November over rising cholera cases in Angola, Burundi and several other countries, reporting a 30 per cent spike across the continent in 2024.
In Congo alone, 64,427 cases and 1,888 deaths have been recorded this year. Children account for 14,818 infections and 340 deaths, highlighting their vulnerability. Seventeen of the nation’s 26 provinces are currently affected.
UNICEF’s report paints a grim picture of water and sanitation access in the country. Only 43 per cent of Congolese citizens have access to basic water services — the lowest rate in Africa — while a mere 15 per cent use basic sanitation.
Although the government has drafted a $192 million cholera elimination plan, funding remains critically low. UNICEF is now seeking an additional $6 million for 2026 to keep its rapid response operations running.
“Without additional funds and coordinated action, many more lives could be lost,” Agbor warned.
(Reuters/NAN)
