Country: Zimbabwe Source: Start Network Please refer to the attached file. In early 2026, Zimbabwe faced a heightened risk of waterborne disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria, and other diarrhoeal diseases. This risk was driven by a combination of La Niña-induced heavy rainfall, flooding, and chronic weaknesses in the country’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems. By late January, rainfall patterns and early signs of waterlogging, coupled with historical flood disease data and persistent WASH vulnerabilities, signalled a high probability of outbreaks, especially between February and March 2026. Following an alert raised by the Meteorological Department, a Start Fund anticipatory alert was raised on 25 January. Four member agency partnerships—Oxfam with Community for Water Alliance, Tearfund with FACT Zimbabwe, HelpAge with the National Age Network of Zimbabwe, and Catholic Relief Services with Caritas Manvingo—were awarded. Read this case study to find out more about the response.
Anticipation of disease outbreak in Zimbabwe – Alert 1046
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