East Africa is currently grappling with a severe cholera crisis, made worse by the impacts of climate change. The region is witnessing an alarming surge in cholera cases driven by a dangerous combination of contaminated water supplies, inadequate sanitation infrastructure, and an exceptionally wet rainy season that has overwhelmed waste management systems. This situation is especially dire in informal settlements, where open sewers overflow during rains, spilling raw sewage into homes, streets, and shallow wells. Many residents lack access to clean water and often have to rely on vendors who sell water at exorbitant prices or on unsafe sources.
In Kenya, 153 cholera cases have been reported across three counties Migori, Kisumu, and Nairobi highlighting how widespread the outbreak is becoming. But beyond Kenya, a more ominous scenario is unfolding in South Sudan, where the Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Unity State has become the epicenter of a devastating epidemic. The camp is home to over 150,000 people displaced by floods, and the crisis began in November 2024 after years of unprecedented flooding transformed the once-productive land into a watery wasteland.
The cholera outbreak in Bentiu has infected over 11,000 people, with more than 4,000 currently receiving treatment. Aerial images reveal that more than 2,000 square miles an area roughly the size of Delaware remain submerged underwater. Roads that once connected communities have turned into waterways, with small dry pockets overcrowded by displaced families who first fled war and now face nature’s wrath. Inside the cholera treatment center at Bentiu camp, beds overflow with patients of all ages suffering from dehydration and severe stomach cramps.
Cholera, a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated water and food, has found ideal conditions to thrive in the flooded environment. The prolonged rains have contaminated freshwater sources, forcing people to drink from stagnant water that serves as breeding grounds for waterborne diseases. Many villagers, like Ruop Gatluak, have suffered severely due to the lack of clean water infrastructure. He recounts how he nearly died from cholera but was saved thanks to medical intervention at Bentiu State Hospital.
Medical teams working in the area are not only treating the sick but also carrying out household disinfection campaigns, distributing hygiene kits, and guiding families to chlorination points and handwashing stations. Despite these efforts, challenges remain significant. Coordination among responders is slow, and there is an urgent need for more partners, supplies, and quicker responses to contain the outbreak effectively.
Mass vaccination campaigns have started, with healthcare workers sometimes wading through floodwaters to reach isolated communities. The vaccine is seen as a crucial lifesaving tool in Bentiu, where the threat of cholera is persistent and deadly. However, the fragile health system in South Sudan is under tremendous strain, with the collapse of infrastructure and limited resources compounding the crisis.
This crisis in South Sudan serves as a stark warning about the future risks many other regions may face as climate change continues to intensify. The pattern of unseasonal rains and rising waters is becoming the new normal across East Africa, especially in countries destabilized by conflict, poverty, and underfunded health systems. These combined challenges create catastrophic conditions for public health emergencies like cholera outbreaks.
Efforts to control cholera include multi-sectoral interventions focusing on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure in hotspot areas. Governments and humanitarian organizations are working to equip public spaces with handwashing stations and run educational campaigns on hygiene practices to prevent further spread.
Despite overwhelming difficulties, signs of resilience shine through. Vaccination teams operate tirelessly, and community outreach workers educate locals on prevention measures that could save lives. Local volunteers embody a communal spirit that helps sustain hope even in the face of crisis. Mothers like Bechok, recovering from illness, hold onto hope for their children’s health and safety.
The ongoing struggle between contaminated water and life in Bentiu exemplifies the broader global stakes as climate patterns shift. The experience of East Africa highlights the urgent need for international attention and support to build resilient health and water systems. For millions across the region, clean water remains a fundamental source of life and a hope that today’s lessons will prevent tomorrow’s disasters.
