India sends 3.5-ton humanitarian aid to Zambia after Cholera outbreak

India has provided humanitarian aid to Zambia to help combat the cholera outbreak. Zambia is facing a severe cholera outbreak, with nearly 600 people killed and over 15,000 infected since October 2023, according to the reports.

India sent 3.5 tons of aid, including water purification supplies, chlorine tablets, and oral rehydration salts (ORS) sachets, to Zambia on February 6, 2024, which is a sign of international solidarity in the fight against cholera, a serious but preventable disease.

In the meantime, reacting to the ongoing cholera epidemic that is endangering almost 3.5 million people, the European Union (EU) has said that it will give Zambia one million euros in help.

According to the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the emergency funds will assist humanitarian partners UNICEF and the WHO in their efforts to address urgent and critical requirements pertaining to health, water, hygiene, and sanitation (ECHO).

There had been 16,526 instances of cholera nationwide as of January 31, 2024, with 613 fatalities. Nearly 4% of cases and fatalities are deadly, with the majority of cases and deaths occurring in Lusaka Province.

Meanwhile, UNICEF is assisting Zambia will the essential vaccines and services.

As the rainy season in the country is expected to continue till May, it is anticipated that it could re-ignite the spread of disease which causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.