Save the Children warns that in 2026, collapsing health funding, conflict, and climate shocks could trigger a deadly resurgence of childhood diseases such as cholera. Without urgent global action, decades of progress in child survival risk being undone.
Save the Children warns that several deadly childhood diseases, including cholera, could resurge in 2026 as a result of international aid cuts, conflict, and the climate crisis. In 2025, humanitarian health funding for low- and middle-income countries fell significantly, with sub-Saharan African countries most affected. As a result, health systems are under pressure to deliver essential services to children with fewer resources. At the same time, record numbers of children are living in areas affected by conflict, climate-induced crises, or both, which further heightens vulnerability to waterborne diseases [1].
In 2025, cholera mortality increased compared to the previous year due to limited access to safe water and collapsing primary health care services, in part as a result of aid cuts and conflict. Cholera case numbers also spiked in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both affected by conflict and cuts in humanitarian aid. In addition to cholera, other deadly childhood diseases predicted to increase in 2026 include measles, malaria, and tuberculosis [1].
The organization calls for urgent global action, stronger national leadership, and renewed investment, especially in fragile and conflict-affected settings, to prevent a reversal of decades of progress in child survival [1].
[1] Save the Children, “Year lookahead: Five deadly diseases for children on watch list for 2026,” Dec. 2025. [Online]. Available here.