Cholera Outbreak Rapid Response: Lessons learned from Concern Worldwide’s experience in Ethiopia

Country: Ethiopia Source: Concern Worldwide Please refer to the attached file. Context Ethiopia continues to face recurrent public health emergencies driven by the interaction of protracted conflict, climate shocks, population displacement, and weak service coverage. Cholera outbreaks remain a persistent risk, particularly in areas experiencing water scarcity, poor sanitation, seasonal population movements, and disruption of routine health and WASH services. In regions such as Amhara, Tigray, and Somali, insecurity and displacement have further constrained access to safe water, sanitation facilities, and timely health care. The Amhara Region was among the most affected areas during the recent cholera outbreak in Ethiopia, reporting 4,337 cases and 59 deaths (case fatality rate of1.36%) across 40 woredas between 2024 and early 2025. Mass gathering sites including holy water sites, IDP settlements, and remote rural kebeles have been identified as high-risk transmission settings, where overcrowding, inadequate sanitation infrastructure, and entrenched social practices increase vulnerability to waterborne disease. These risks are compounded during seasonal peaks, when population movement and service pressure intensify. Within this context, rapid, flexible, and locally coordinated emergency responses are critical to containing outbreaks and preventing excess morbidity and mortality. Overview In June 2025 under the Ethiopia Rapid Response Mechanism (ET-RRM), funded by ECHO, Concern Worldwide implemented a rapid cholera response in Quara Woreda, West Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, in partnership with the national NGO Faith in Action (FIA) and relevant government ministries. The response was implemented primarily in Berniel Giorgis and Gelegu town, targeting both religious sites and displacement-affected locations where cholera transmission risk was highest. Interventions focused on emergency WASH service delivery, supported by capacity strengthening of local WASH structures and close coordination with woreda water and health offices to ensure alignment with government-led response efforts. Interventions were designed to be short-term, highly targeted, and adaptive, enabling rapid mobilisation of resources to develop hotspots, including religious sites and IDP locations. Strong coordination with woreda authorities, health and water offices, and community leadership structures underpinned implementation, ensuring alignment with government systems and local acceptance.
2026-07-10 11:03:07