- Title: Cholera aid for African countries stalled by Iran conflict
- Date: 27th March 2026
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 26, 2026) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES (IFRC) DIRECTOR GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN SERVICES AND MANAGEMENT, CÉCILE TERRAZ, SAYING: “The Middle East is under severe immediate pressure. What we're seeing right now is not one disruption, but it's a systemic stress on the entire huma
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Africa Chad Cholera Climate Conflict Crisis Disease East Europe Health Iran Middle Migration Rain Spread Sudan Vaccine War Weather
- Location: OMDURMAN AND TAWILA, SUDAN / GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA002789027032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Emergency cholera supplies for several African countries are stuck in Dubai due to a logistics backlog linked to the Iran war, aid officials said, raising concerns ahead of the high‑risk rainy season.
The stocks, intended as contingency kits for cholera‑prone countries such as Chad and Sudan, include materials to set up small field hospitals and chlorine for treating water. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said some of their shipments are stranded and that flying them out now costs about 70% more than usual.
“What we are facing is an expensive supply chain where it’s less aid for more dollars,” said Cecile Terraz, IFRC’s head of humanitarian services.
Last year saw more than 600,000 cholera cases and 8,000 deaths globally. WHO warned that any supply disruption could quickly worsen outbreaks. Many African countries rely entirely on imported medicines; one doctor in eastern Chad said stocks there would cover only about 100 patients if cases return.
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