Cholera threatens displaced families as Haiti’s crises deepen

Cholera is once again haunting Haiti’s most vulnerable, as the disease spreads in displacement sites where families lack access to safe water and sanitation. The outbreak adds pressure to an already overwhelmed public health system, strained by the country’s ongoing political, security, and economic turmoil.

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According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), 34 new suspected cholera cases were reported between July 13 and 19 across six of Haiti’s 10 departments. Most of these infections were recorded in camps and settlements where thousands have sought refuge from escalating gang violence, especially in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Since December 2024, over 2,800 suspected cases have been recorded, with 91 confirmed by laboratory testing and at least 36 deaths. Five active transmission hotspots have been identified, including areas in Port-au-Prince and parts of the northern region.

UN humanitarian agencies and partners continue to lead prevention and response efforts, despite significant funding challenges. In Artibonite, families received water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts, while in central Haiti, partners have set up handwashing stations and intensified public health education in affected communities.

The resurgence of cholera, a preventable and treatable disease, underscores the urgent need for improved access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare in the country’s most at-risk areas.