Cholera Outbreak in Syria Provokes Warnings of ‘Health Disaster’

A Syrian woman with her cholera-infected child (AP)
A Syrian woman with her cholera-infected child (AP)
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Cholera Outbreak in Syria Provokes Warnings of ‘Health Disaster’

A Syrian woman with her cholera-infected child (AP)
A Syrian woman with her cholera-infected child (AP)

The cholera outbreak in Syria is affecting all regions, regardless of the forces in control. Regime-run areas, however, are proving to be most affected by the epidemic.

Concerns are intensifying as more cholera cases are being reported from overcrowded refugee camps, where the necessities of life, like potable water, are not available.

Official statistics published by the Syrian Health Ministry showed that the governorates of Aleppo and Deir Ezzor in northern and eastern Syria had the largest number of cholera cases.

Damascus has been trying to impose strict measures to curb the spread of cholera.

The epidemic’s death toll in regime-controlled areas has risen to 44, according to the ministry. At least 908 infections have been reported as well.

The ministry recorded 558 infections in Aleppo, 165 in Deir Ezzor, 68 in Hasaka, 33 in Raqqa, 28 in Lattakia, 19 in As-Suwayda, 11 in Damascus, ten in Hama, seven in Homs, five in Daraa, and two in the Damascus countryside, and one in each of Quneitra and Tartous.

According to Damascus, two more people died because of cholera infection in northeastern Syria.

The Syrian capital urged health workers to continue reporting suspected cases.

Najat Rochdi, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, warned on Friday that the cholera outbreak could become “catastrophic.”

“Aid is urgently needed, and sustainable and unhindered access to affected communities is imperative,” said Rochdi.

Earlier, the UN attributed the rise in cholera cases in Syria to severe decline in Euphrates River water level, drought-like conditions, and people recourse to unsecured water sources.

Reports indicate that more than five million people in Syria depend on the Euphrates River for drinking water.

Since the outbreak was declared on Sept.10, UNICEF has distributed 60 acute watery diarrhea (AWD) kits in the most affected governorates to support the treatment at health facility and community level.



Israeli Fire Kills 23 People in Gaza, Many at Aid Site

Two Palestinians ride a small boat at the seafront next to a tent camp in the Gaza City port, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Two Palestinians ride a small boat at the seafront next to a tent camp in the Gaza City port, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Israeli Fire Kills 23 People in Gaza, Many at Aid Site

Two Palestinians ride a small boat at the seafront next to a tent camp in the Gaza City port, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Two Palestinians ride a small boat at the seafront next to a tent camp in the Gaza City port, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Israeli fire and airstrikes killed at least 23 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, most of them near an aid distribution site operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, local health authorities said.

Medics at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals in central Gaza areas, where most of the casualties were moved to, said at least 15 people were killed as they tried to approach the GHF aid distribution site near the Netzarim corridor.

The rest were killed in separate attacks across the enclave, they added. There has been no immediate comment by the Israeli military or the GHF on Saturday's incidents, Reuters reported.

The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of aid distribution which the United Nations says is neither impartial nor neutral.

The Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Saturday at least 274 people have so far been killed, and more than 2,000 wounded, near aid distribution sites since the GHF began operations in Gaza.

Later on Saturday, the Israeli military ordered residents of Khan Younis and the nearby towns of Abassan and Bani Suhaila in the southern Gaza Strip to leave their homes and head west towards the so-called humanitarian zone area, saying it would forcefully work against "terror organizations" in the area.