Syrian Ministry of Health announces registration of 600 cases of cholera

DARMSUMQ and KOBANE, Syria — According to a statement by the Syrian Ministry of Health, 594 confirmed cases of cholera have been recorded throughout Syria.

The infections are recorded as follows: 389 in Holeb (Aleppo), 84 in Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor), 45 in Hasakah, 26 in Raqqa, and 50 cases in other governorates.

The number of cholera deaths has reached 39: 34 in Holeb, 3 in Hasakah, and 2 in Dayro Zcuro.

On 10 September, the Ministry of Health of the Syrian government declared an outbreak of cholera in Holeb following testing confirmed 15 cases, including one death.

In Kobane, the Health Authority of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria’s Euphrates Region opened a center to treat people with cholera in light of the prevalence of the disease due to the low level of the Euphrates River. The situation in the region prompted a UNICEF delegation to visit the Water Directorate.

The center can accommodate 40 beds, supported with the necessary equipment to treat patients.

Co-Chair of the Health Authority Ahmed Mahmoud said that the Authority had not recorded any cholera cases but there were three suspected cases of the disease. Mahmoud demanded the World Health Organization (WHO) provide the necessary support.

Medical reports also indicate that the low level of the Euphrates River, which is the main source of drinking water, is the main cause of the outbreak.

Decreased rainfall and Turkey’s illegal reduction of the upstream water flow have reduced water levels in the Euphrates River to record lows.

UNICEF delegation was briefed on Sunday about the reality of drinking water from the Euphrates River by the Kobane Water Directorate.

The delegation toured the water pumps in the villages of Qara Qwi, Al-Shuyoukh, and Tal al-Abr, in addition to the People’s Municipality Center in Kobane, to see the reality of sewage water in the city.