Eastern Congo's Kivu provinces grapple with cholera surge and water scarcity

The health authorities of South Kivu reported a sharp rise in cholera cases between January and May 2026, recording 6,494 suspected infections and 80 deaths, a case‑fatality rate of 1.2 %. The outbreak now affects 23 of the province's 34 health zones, with 65 % of cases concentrated in five zones – Fizi, Ibanda, Ruzizi, Uvira and Itombwe. In the 22nd epidemiological week, 193 new cases were identified without any deaths, while officials warn of potential shortages of medical supplies and limited community‑level interventions.

Meanwhile, in Kibirizi, a town in North Kivu's Rutshuru territory, residents have faced a severe drinking‑water shortage for two weeks. Fountains installed by Mercy Corps have run dry, forcing people to wake at dawn to fetch water from distant, unprotected sources, raising the risk of water‑borne illnesses. Local volunteers have begun constructing new capture points five kilometres away and are appealing for additional humanitarian support.