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Since August 2025, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, with support from the French Centre de Crise et de Soutien (CDCS) and in collaboration with its local partners Goal Prime Organization Nigeria (GPON) and FinPact Development Foundation (FINDEF), has implemented an integrated, multi-sectoral response across northeastern and northwestern Nigeria to address humanitarian needs driven by conflict, seasonal shocks, and population displacement.
As part of this response, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has established a rapid response mechanism designed to respond quickly to sudden emergencies, including population displacement, natural and climate disasters, and disease outbreaks such as cholera, ensuring that affected communities receive timely, lifesaving assistance.
Rapid response to contain cholera transmission
Every rainy season between May and September, communities across northern Nigeria face an increased risk of cholera outbreaks. Flooding, contaminated water sources, and inadequate sanitation create ideal conditions for the disease to spread rapidly, particularly in communities with limited access to basic services. The risk is even greater among internally displaced persons, who often live in overcrowded settlements which have inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and limited access to healthcare, making them more susceptible to disease.
Following the major cholera outbreak in Zamfara State in 2025 with 15 464 recorded¹ cases, as well as the resurgence of over 28 000 cases in Borno State since early May 2026, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, with support from the CDCS, is implementing preventive WASH interventions across affected communities and hotspots, to reduce the risk of further spread and strengthen community resilience. In the Northeast and Northwest of Nigeria, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is working to reduce disease transmission by combining safe water provision, sanitation improvements, hygiene promotion, rapid response activities, and community engagement, reaching over 50,000 IDPs.
Nigeria
Context and action- 237 million inhabitants
- 164th out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index
- 303,805 people assisted
When a suspected or confirmed cholera case is reported, trained response teams act quickly to prevent the disease from spreading. They visit the affected household as well as nearby families to disinfect the home, reduce contamination in the surrounding environment, and share simple advice on how to stay safe. This includes how to wash hands properly, treat and store drinking water safely, use good sanitation practices, and recognize cholera symptoms so people can seek treatment as early as possible.
Sadiya, a mother of four, received a cholera kit.
© SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL
Families also receive cholera kits containing essential supplies that enable them to put prevention methods into practice at home. Each kit includes oral rehydration solution, water treatment solution, soap, detergent, buckets, jerrycans, plastic kettles, and drinking cups, helping households to safely treat and store water, maintain good hygiene, and reduce the risk of further transmission.
For Sadiya, a mother of 4, the rapid response came at a critical moment. After receiving treatment for cholera at the Cholera Treatment Centre in Gusau, Zamfara State, she returned home with the knowledge and tools needed to protect herself and her family from future infections. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL response teams disinfected her household to reduce the risk of transmission and provided practical guidance on safe water treatment, handwashing, sanitation, and recognizing the early signs of cholera.
Upon discharge, Sadiya also received a cholera kit containing essential hygiene and water treatment supplies, including soap, a bucket with a cover, a jerry can, a cup, detergent, and Aqua tabs to help her put these practices into action at home.
“The cholera kit gave me everything I needed to practice what I learned at the treatment center. My home was disinfected, and I now know how to treat our water, wash our hands properly, and keep my family safe from cholera. I feel more confident that we can protect ourselves if another outbreak happens.” says Sadiya.
These interventions reached thousands of households across both states. In Borno State, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL distributed 595 cholera kits to households with suspected or confirmed cholera cases and 2,300 case area targeted intervention (CATI) kits to neighboring households. In Zamfara State, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL provided 500 cholera kits to affected households and 1,998 CATI kits, helping families living close to confirmed cases adopt preventive measures before the disease could spread further.
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL also strengthened the response capacity of local health facilities by equipping Cholera Treatment Units with handwashing stations, cleaning products and disinfectant, and improved medical waste management systems. These infection prevention and control measures help protect patients, healthcare workers, and caregivers while supporting safer treatment environments.
Although rapid response is critical to stopping cholera during an outbreak, preventing future outbreaks depends on sustained access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Protecting communities with safe water and better sanitation
In communities where water systems have been damaged or cannot meet people’s needs, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL works with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSAN) and local water vendors to deliver emergency supplies of safe water.
In parallel, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL helps to rehabilitate water infrastructure. Trained local mechanics repair boreholes and hand pumps, helping thousands of people regain a reliable source of safe drinking water close to home.
To make sure these water points are maintained after the emergency has passed, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL trains and supports community Water Management Committees. These groups are responsible for looking after the water points, organizing repairs, and helping ensure that everyone can continue to access safe water.
Making water safe to use is just as important as making it available. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL treats the water collected by beneficiaries at the community water sources with chlorine to kill harmful germs, while working with communities to explain why chlorinated water is safe to use. Through community awareness sessions, families learn how to treat and safely store drinking water, wash their hands properly, and practice good hygiene to reduce the risk of illness.
Safe water, good hygiene, and intensive prevention are essential to controlling cholera. But to help prevent future outbreaks and to stop waste contaminating the environment, improving sanitation is just as important.
To further reduce environmental contamination, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL safely empties overflowing household and communal latrines in collaboration with the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), Zamfara Environmental Sanitation Agency (ZESA) and local service providers. Restoring the functionality of these facilities helps protect nearby water sources and limits the spread of waterborne diseases. To ensure these improvements are sustained, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL also trains and equips Sanitation Committees to oversee the maintenance, cleanliness, and proper use of sanitation facilities, strengthening community ownership and long-term resilience.
Building Healthier and More Resilient Communities
From emergency household disinfection and cholera kits to rehabilitated water systems and strengthened community management, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL ‘s integrated WASH response is helping families not only survive cholera outbreaks but also build the resilience needed to tackle future emergencies.
Header photo : © Peter ELIAS