Country: South Sudan Sources: Government of the Republic of South Sudan, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan Please refer to the attached file. 1. The extraordinary inter-ministerial meeting on cholera convened on 7 July 2025 at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, co-chaired by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Albino Akol Atak, and the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG/RC/HC) of South Sudan, Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho. Representatives in attendance included the Minister of Health, Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Bech Geoge Anyak, the Minister of Youth and Sport and Acting Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hon. Dr. Joseph Geng Akech, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and senior representatives from the Government of South Sudan, including the Ministries of Health, Water Resources and Irrigation, Environment and Forestry and Finance and Planning, and representatives of the UN, including from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and NGO representatives.2. The meeting convened to address the alarming escalation of the cholera outbreak across the country. South Sudan is facing a prolonged and geographically expanding cholera emergency, with over 79,000 cases and more than 1,400 deaths reported to date. This is not merely a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services. In recognition of the severity and complexity of this situation, today’s meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to a unified, whole-of-government, UN, and society response.3. The meeting concluded with agreement on the following priorities:a) Pre-positioning of lifesaving supplies: Rapid deployment of medical, WASH, and nutrition supplies in high-risk counties ahead of peak flooding.b) Continuity of services: Ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential health and nutrition services in affected and at-risk areas.c) Enhanced surveillance and early warning: Expand surveillance coverage and surge capacity for early detection and response.d) Emergency WASH and risk communication: Immediate scale-up of chlorinated water access, latrine desludging, hygiene promotion, and community engagement.e) Oral cholera vaccine (OCV) campaigns: Sustain and expand both reactive and preventive OCV interventions.f) Humanitarian access and logistics: Facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access and strengthen logistics to accelerate response efforts.g) Resource mobilization and transparency: Mobilize domestic and international resources, and implement robust tracking of funding flows, stock-outs, and service coverage.4. The Government of South Sudan is committed to taking immediate measures to contain the outbreak and mitigate its impact, including:a) The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to oversee intersectoral coordination and support operationalization of the Inter-Ministerial Cholera and Flood Taskforce.b) The Ministry of Health to lead the technical response, ensure continuity of critical health and nutrition services, and oversee the effective rollout of OCV campaigns.c) The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, in coordination with the WASH Cluster, to intensify access to safe water and sanitation services in cholera hotspots and displacement sites.d) The Ministry of Environment to lead environmental health risk assessments in choleraaffected areas, coordinate waste management and drainage interventions to reduce contamination risks, and support climate-resilient planning to mitigate future outbreaks.e) The Ministry of Finance to initiate disbursement of emergency funds, allocate contingency budget lines for health and WASH needs, and coordinate with partners to address funding gaps.5. In light of the commitments, the next eight weeks are pivotal. With peak flooding on the horizon, time is of the essence to prevent a further escalation of the outbreak. The Government and UN partners jointly call for:a) Decisive political leadership: Cholera response and flood preparedness must be treated as urgent national priorities, with full mobilization of emergency mechanisms and full unimpeded access to all affected areas.b) Operationalization of the inter-ministerial taskforce: This coordination body must be fully empowered and resourced to lead a fast, agile, and integrated response.c) Support from international partners: UN agencies and humanitarian actors will continue to provide technical and operational support, while also mobilizing additional resources and strengthening data-driven response efforts.6. The meeting reaffirmed a unified vision to protect lives, preserve critical systems, and build national resilience to future public health and climate-related emergencies. The Government of South Sudan and its international partners stand united in confronting this crisis with urgency, resolve, and collaboration. This forum will meet on a monthly basis to review progress.SignedHon. Albino Akol AtakMinister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster ManagementRepublic of South SudanHon. Sarah Cleto RialMinister of HealthRepublic of South SudanHon. Bech Geoge AnyakThe Deputy MinisterMinistry of Finance and PlanningRepublic of South SudanHon. Dr. Joseph Geng AkechThe MinisterMinistry of Youth and Sport andActing Minister of Water Resources and IrrigationRepublic of South SudanHon. Josephine Napwan CosmosMinister of Environment and ForestryRepublic of South SudanMs. Anita Kiki GbehoDeputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian CoordinatorUnited Nations in South Sudan