newYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The cholera outbreak in several parts of Syria poses a “serious threat to Syria and its people,” said the country’s UN representative, calling for urgent action to contain its spread. .
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, said in a statement that the outbreak was caused by the use of contaminated water to irrigate crops and by people drinking unsafe water from the Euphrates River, which bisects Syria from north to east. said it was believed to be related to
The widespread destruction of the country’s water infrastructure after more than a decade of war means that much of Syria’s population depends on unsafe water sources.
CENTCOM chief believes Syria is next generation ISIS ‘breeding ground’
Richard Brennan, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean region, said the agency had recorded eight deaths from the disease since August 25, six in the north. In Aleppo, the two were Deir al-Zor of the East.
“This is the first confirmed cholera outbreak in several years. The geographic spread is a concern and we need to act quickly,” he told Reuters by phone. .
The outbreak is concentrated in the northern Aleppo region, where more than 70% of the total 936 suspected cases have been recorded, and Deir al-Zor, where more than 20% have been registered.
A small number of suspected cases have been recorded in Raqqa, al-Hasaka, Hama and Lattakia.
Israeli defense minister says Iran is building missiles in Syria, reveals map of facility
The number of confirmed cholera cases is 20 in Aleppo, 4 in Latakia and 2 in Damascus.
According to the World Health Organization, before the recent cholera outbreak, the water crisis had led to an increase in diseases such as diarrhea, malnutrition and skin conditions in the region.
Brennan said the WHO is appealing to donors for more funding as it has already dealt with numerous cholera outbreaks in the region, including Pakistan, where flooding exacerbated existing outbreaks. .
US-backed forces in Syria arrest dozens of ISIS terrorists hiding in refugee camps
“We need to expand our monitoring and testing capacity… Efforts are underway to bring clean water to the most affected communities,” he said.