Cholera and Mpox cases increasing in DRC as aid cuts push health systems to the brink of collapse

Ongoing violence and the suspension of USAID funding are accelerating the collapse of the fragile health system of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), leaving millions of people defenceless against preventable diseases like cholera and Mpox.

While the country lacks testing centers and functioning hospitals, the destruction of displacement camps during the violence, including vital water and sanitation infrastructure, is making the situation worse.

During the last week of February, Oxfam’s partners on the ground saw hundreds more cholera, MPOX and measles cases in North Kivu alone.

In January, new cases of cholera infections in the country more than doubled to over 3,850, and the number of deaths tripled from the previous month, with 67 fatalities, Oxfam calculated based on WHO data.

Dr Manenji Mangundu, Oxfam DRC Country Director, said: “This is turning into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe. People are drinking water straight from contaminated rivers and springs because water tanks and sanitation facilities have been destroyed. When you combine this with a collapsed health system, cholera is spreading like wildfire.

“USAID was the leading donor in DRC and most aid agencies here relied on its funding to provide life-saving assistance. The international community needs to understand that the systems are rapidly collapsing in the DRC. Every moment of inaction means more lives are being lost that could be saved.”

Aid cuts pose an immediate threat to the lives of 7.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs) who are already struggling for food, water and shelter. The worst-affected areas include Kirotshe and the city of Goma, where displaced families in overcrowded conditions have little to no access to clean water. More than 70 health facilities and testing centres in North Kivu have been completely destroyed. Those that are running are unable to cope with the demand.

Kamara Wabomundu of the CCLK/Bulimba Health Zone Central Office, an Oxfam partner, said: “Our hospital was 100 per cent dependent on humanitarian support. When our funding was cut, everything collapsed — we had no backup plan. We are asking people to pay for care when they can’t even afford their next meal.”

The closure of banks and microfinance institutions is also severely impacting the distribution of emergency aid through cash transfers. The shutdown of Goma and Kavumu airports has driven up food prices, making them unaffordable for millions of people.

/ENDS

Contact information

For more information and interviews contact Zara Sarvarian / press officer at Oxfam GB / +44 (0)7584 265077 / zsarvarian1@oxfam.org.uk

Notes to Editors

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) from January 1 to 26, 2025, 3,853 cases of cholera infections and 67 deaths were confirmed in DRC which represents a 112 per cent increase from the previous month in infection rates, as well as a 235 per cent increase in deaths. Data on February infections and deaths comes from Oxfam partners working in DRC.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the leading humanitarian donor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Last year’s report indicates that it provided over $838 million in 2024 alone, including $414 million specifically for humanitarian needs resulting from the ongoing conflict and displacement.

According to the UN 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan, there are 7.8 million Internally Displaced People (IDP) in DRC — among the world's highest displacement figures.

Oxfam's DRC appeal is open to help to scale up Oxfam's response.