Although cholera is occurring in Somalia every year around this time, this outbreak's intensity has been exacerbated by the current severe drought, which limits access to safe water and sanitation facilities. People and communities are forced to use unsafe water, therefore increasing the risk of transmission of water-borne diseases such as AWD/cholera.

Aid organisations active in health, water, sanitation and hygiene continue to strengthen the response in AWD/cholera-affected areas. Activities include setting up cholera treatment centres, pre-positioning of emergency supplies, chlorination of water sources, health workers training on case management and mass hygiene promotion campaigns.

However, restricted humanitarian access caused by insecurity allows the rapid spread of the outbreak in many rural areas. Cholera preventive and response activities would need to be urgently expanded in those areas.