N'Djamena: A rapidly escalating cholera outbreak in eastern Chad has claimed 16 lives and infected at least 288 people across three health districts in the last week, with the majority of cases reported in several refugee camps in Ouaddaï province. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is responding by delivering emergency health services in affected camps, working alongside government partners to contain the outbreak and support vulnerable communities.

According to African Press Organization, this growing health crisis is unfolding at a time when Chad's health system is already under extreme pressure. The country is facing a massive influx of refugees—over a million people, including more than 875,000 who have fled the conflict in Sudan over the past two years. Severe flooding, limited funding, and a lack of medical staff, equipment, and infrastructure are making it even harder to respond. Poor sanitation, unsafe water, and the ongoing rainy season are creating the perfect conditions for cholera and other waterborne diseases to spread quickly.

Alain Rusuku, Country Director for the IRC in Chad, emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for coordinated efforts to address the outbreak effectively. The IRC's intervention involves not only immediate medical care but also efforts to improve sanitation and access to clean water in the affected areas.