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Comoros

UNICEF Comoros Humanitarian Situation Report No. 5 (Cholera): 1 to 30 June 2024

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Highlights

• Since the declaration of the cholera epidemic on 2 February 2024, and as of 30 June, Comoros has recorded 10,142 suspected cases of cholera and 147 deaths, representing a 1.45% case fatality rate (CFR).

• All three islands continue to report cholera cases and Anjouan island is the epicentre of the epidemic.

• Children and adolescents make up over 35% of reported cases, and those under 15 years old account for 25% of the reported cases.

• Through a partnership between UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and the Comorian Red Crescent, 18 Case Area Targeted Interventions (CATI) teams continued to respond across the three islands to prevent further cholera transmission. The teams have reached over 45,000 households with house decontamination and stop cholera kits, and over 185,000 individuals via door-to-door or small group interactions.

• Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) efforts have reached 570,000 people with key engagement messages, including 150,000 people reached with direct person-to-person communication. Communication efforts have supported the Ministry of Health’s oral cholera vaccine (OCV) vaccination campaign, reaching 47% of the population vaccinated as of 30 June, with wide variations between islands.

Funding Overview and Partnerships

UNICEF is appealing for US$5.95 million to provide a lifesaving response to the cholera epidemic in Comoros per its revised multi-sectoral response plan covering from February to December 2024. To date, US$2.4 million have been mobilized thanks to UNICEF’s multi-donor thematic funds, National Committees for UNICEF (Germany, France), reprogramming of a development grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and support received from CERF, ECHO, and USAID. France has also indicated an upcoming contribution of US$1.08M (EUR 1 million).

Despite these much-appreciated contributions, UNICEF's cholera response in Comoros has a funding gap of 59%. After more than five months of disease transmission, the situation, although markedly better, remains fragile. Therefore, additional resources remain essential to meet the evolving humanitarian needs across various sectors, including Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH); Health; Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), while ensuring the continuity of necessary services until the end of 2024.

Targeted investment remains crucial to slow the spread of cholera, prevent further infections and deaths of children and adults across the Comoros islands, further strengthen post-vaccination actions conducive to interrupt transmission, and plan for more transitional activities to prevent any resurgence of the epidemic.