Photo by ai@ce
An outbreak of Cholera started in October in Yemen. Tens of thousands of people have been infected with the illness.
Per BBC, “Some 26,000 people have now been affected since October by the outbreak, which subsided over the winter.”
The disease is spread through food and water that has human feces in it. From April 27 to May 8, there were about one thousand cases of Cholera in Yemen.
AOL reports, “The deaths from the diarrheal disease which is carried in food and water tainted by human feces are among 1,360 cases that the United Nations agency reported since April 27.”
Less than half of the health facilities are fully operational because of the destruction of some. This makes it even more difficult to treat patients with Cholera.
The BBC states, “The WHO says fewer than 45% of health facilities are fully functioning, with almost 300 damaged or destroyed in fighting between forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi – who is backed by a Saudi-led multinational coalition – and those allied to the Houthi rebel movement.”
There was a previous outbreak of Cholera. In total, over 100 people have died during the conflict due to Cholera.
Per AOL, “A previous outbreak subsided last winter, Zagaria said, and the country has experienced a total of around 27,000 cases including 130 deaths during the conflict.”
There are many symptoms of Cholera, including diarrhea and vomiting. If left untreated, Cholera can cause death within hours.
The BBC reports, “Cholera is a water-borne disease that is transmitted through contaminated water and food. Symptoms include acute diarrhoea and vomiting. People ill with cholera can become very sick and, when it is left untreated, death can occur within hours.”
The reason for the Cholera outbreak, is two years of years of years.
Nevo Zagaria said to Reuters, who reported through AOL News, “‘The cause is that there is two years of war in Yemen. There is a huge impact on the infrastructure, the electricity power is on and off, the water pumping stations are not functioning regularly and this has an impact on the quality of water.’”
Mercy Corps works in Yemen. They do several things in order to prevent water-borne diseases such as Cholera such as constructing and rehabilitating water systems.
Per Mercy Corps they do this by, “Constructing and rehabilitating water systems, irrigation channels, toilet facilities and other community infrastructure. Promoting proper hygiene in schools and communities.”
Please pray for an end to the Cholera outbreak and war in Yemen. Pray for more ways to provide clean water to the people of Yemen. Pray for more people to come to know Christ’s hope in Yemen.
BBC: Yemen war: Surge in cholera outbreak kills 34 – WHO
AOL: Yemen cholera outbreak kills 25 people in a week: WHO
