By GNA Reporter Accra, Feb. 12, GNA – The European Union (EU) has provided GHC 1.6 million (€100,000) in humanitarian funding to support communities affected by the ongoing cholera outbreak. The outbreak, which began in October 2024, has spread to 36 districts across five regions—Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti. In a press release, the EU stated that its financial assistance would support the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) in delivering critical relief interventions, including chlorine for disinfection, handwashing devices, and public health education. The Ghana Health Service reported 4,850 suspected cases and 35 deaths by the end of December, despite ongoing vaccination efforts to curb the spread of the disease. The outbreak has been attributed to poor hygiene practices, inadequate sanitation, and heavy rains exacerbating drainage issues. The relief efforts would, therefore, prioritise high-risk areas such as displacement camps and informal settlements on the urban periphery, the release said. According to the EU, the funding is expected to benefit 150,000 individuals who are at high risk of cholera transmission due to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The Ghana Red Cross has been at the forefront of the response, providing sanitation resources and engaging communities to curb the outbreak’s spread. The support forms part of the EU’s broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The EU has a €14.5 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the IFRC to replenish the DREF for small-scale disasters that do not trigger a formal international appeal. The EU and its members are the world’s leading providers of humanitarian aid, according to the release. It works through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department to assist millions of victims of conflict and natural disasters. With headquarters in Brussels, and a global network of field offices, the EU provides emergency relief based on humanitarian needs. In addition to its humanitarian aid, the EU contributes €40 million towards the development of Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing capability under the Global Gateway flagship initiative.