Oxfam in Nigeria has officially commenced an active, two-month emergency response targeting 10,000 vulnerable people to combat the escalating cholera outbreak in Borno State. This rapid intervention, running from July 6 to September 7, 2026, is being mobilized after Oxfam activated its internal emergency funding protocols to ensure immediate, lifesaving action on the ground.
The outbreak remains a severe public health crisis. As of July 27, 2026, authorities have reported 44,568 suspected cholera cases and 273 deaths. The highest disease burdens are concentrated in densely populated and conflict-affected Local Government Areas (LGAs), specifically Maiduguri, Jere, Monguno, and Konduga. Meanwhile, hard-to-reach areas like Damboa, Kaga, and Magumeri face elevated mortality risks due to delayed access to lifesaving treatment.
To reduce transmission and strengthen community-level preparedness during the ongoing rainy season, Oxfam is deploying an integrated prevention and response strategy. Working alongside community structures and health partners, Oxfam’s immediate operational priorities include:
- Public Health Promotion: Conducting community hygiene awareness sessions and disseminating critical health information via radio programs, SMS campaigns, and community dialogues.
- Rapid Community-Based Action: Distributing Cholera Prevention Kits and soap to at-risk households, and providing discharge kits to families of recovered patients.
- Safe Water and Sanitation: Installing temporary and communal handwashing stations in markets, public spaces, and health facilities.
- Health Facility Support: Supplying cleaning and disinfection materials, alongside personal protective equipment (PPE) to support safe waste management.
- Community-Based Surveillance: Training and equipping Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) with essential kits and PPE to track the disease, communicate risks, and manage referrals.
“The severity of this cholera outbreak demanded immediate action, which is why we triggered our internal funding. To prevent further tragedy, we are calling on international donors to match this urgency and fund a full-scale response.”
While this initial internal funding allows Oxfam to bridge immediate gaps in safe water access and community surveillance, the broader humanitarian response in Borno State remains under-resourced. Oxfam continues to urge the international donor community to rapidly scale up emergency funding to sustain these vital health and sanitation interventions and prevent further loss of life.
Maxwell Osarenkhoe | Media & Communication Officer | maxwell.osarenkhoe@oxfam.org | +234 807 594 9898
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- Epidemiological Data: The figures cited in this release (44,568 suspected cholera cases and 273 deaths) reflect the latest available data as of July 27, 2026.
- Funding Mechanism: The rapid response was mobilized through Oxfam’s internal Catastrophe Fund (CAT Fund). This global mechanism provides immediate, short-term start-up grants to enable rapid, lifesaving interventions in the critical early stages of a humanitarian emergency.
- Oxfam's Work in the Northeast: Oxfam in Nigeria has a long-standing operational presence in Borno State and the wider Northeast region, specializing in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), food and economic security, and protection for conflict-affected and displaced populations.
- Localization Strategy: Oxfam implements its emergency response programs in close collaboration with established local partners such as CARE Aid, community health structures, and the Borno State Agency for Coordination of Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Response (BACSDAHR).
