Multiple Public Health Emergencies and Displacement in West and Central Africa

A surge in public health emergencies, including mpox, cholera, and Ebola, has been reported in West and Central Africa. The Republic of Congo has seen a resurgence of cholera, while mpox has spread across several countries. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has triggered heightened preparedness and cross-border coordination. Persistent insecurity in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has driven large-scale displacement, with nearly 575,000 refugees and internally displaced persons hosted in neighboring and coastal countries. UNICEF has provided humanitarian interventions, including admitting 15,000 children with severe wasting and providing safe water to 115,800 people. However, UNICEF's 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal remains only 31% funded, limiting life-saving assistance across the region.