UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that cholera continues to impact the fragile state of Haiti’s public health system, particularly in displacement sites, where there is limited access to safe water and sanitation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between July 13 and 19, at least 34 new suspected cholera cases were reported across six of the country’s departments.

“Most of the cases were linked to displacement sites. Five active transmission hotspots have been identified, including in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and in the northern regions,” the UN deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, told the daily briefing on Wednesday.

He said that since December last year, over 2,800 suspected cholera cases have been recorded nationwide, with 91 laboratory-confirmed cases and 36 fatalities. Cases are being managed by national health authorities, with the support of the WHO.

“Despite funding shortfalls, our humanitarian partners continue to carry out key cholera prevention and response activities,” Haq said, noting that in the department of Artibonite, families received water purification tablets and oral rehydration salt, while in central Haiti, the UN partners have installed handwashing stations and scaled up community outreach.

Haq said that in the north, efforts are being made to contain the spread of cholera, with latrines and homes being disinfected and preventive treatments being distributed.

“Despite these efforts, the response remains under severe strain due to limited resources, insecurity and the deteriorating conditions in displacement sites. Additional support is urgently needed to strengthen the public health response and prevent further outbreaks among the country’s most vulnerable,” Haq told reporters.

The UN said that the US$908 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is currently just under nine per cent funded with $79 million received so far.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Wednesday reported that an estimated 80,000 children are at high risk of cholera, as the rainy season begins across West and Central Africa.

Haq said that active outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria raise the threat of cross-border transmission to neighbouring countries.

UNICEF said Chad, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo are also grappling with ongoing epidemics.

Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central Africa Republic and Cameroon remain under close surveillance due to their vulnerability.

UNICEF said that since the start of the outbreaks, it has been delivering health and water, hygiene, and sanitation supplies for treatment facilities and communities, supporting cholera vaccination in the affected areas, and encouraging families to seek timely treatment and improve hygiene practices.