Cholera outbreak strikes Syria, UN launches vaccination campaign
3 January 2025, Damascus – The United Nations is supporting a vaccination campaign in northeastern Syria to combat a cholera outbreak that has affected thousands of people in the region.
The campaign, which began on 1 January, aims to vaccinate more than 1 million people in the camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the provinces of Hasakah, Ar-Raqqa and Aleppo.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or water. It can cause severe dehydration and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
The outbreak in Syria began in late November and has quickly spread to several camps for IDPs. As of 3 January, more than 5,000 cases of cholera have been reported, and at least 30 people have died.
The United Nations is working with the Syrian Ministry of Health and other partners to contain the outbreak and provide treatment for those who have been infected.
The vaccination campaign is a key part of the response effort. The vaccine is safe and effective, and it can protect people from cholera for up to three years.
The United Nations is also providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to the camps, and is working to improve the overall health conditions in the area.
“This cholera outbreak is a serious threat to the health of the people in these camps,” said Dr. Nizar Ahmadi, WHO Representative in Syria, in a press release. “We are working closely with our partners to contain the outbreak and provide treatment for those who have been infected. The vaccination campaign is a key part of our response effort.”
The United Nations is calling on the international community to provide urgent funding to support the cholera response effort in Syria.
Background
The cholera outbreak in Syria is the first major outbreak of the disease in the country since 2010. The outbreak is likely due to a combination of factors, including the ongoing conflict, which has damaged water and sanitation infrastructure, and the displacement of large numbers of people, which has created overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions.
The United Nations is concerned that the cholera outbreak could spread to other parts of Syria, including to areas that are not currently affected by the conflict. The United Nations is working with the Syrian Ministry of Health and other partners to strengthen surveillance and response systems throughout the country.
The cholera outbreak in Syria is a reminder of the urgent need for a political solution to the conflict. The conflict has caused widespread destruction and displacement, and it has created a humanitarian crisis that is affecting millions of people. The United Nations is calling on all parties to the conflict to work towards a peaceful resolution.
Syria: UN teams support cholera vaccination in northeastern camps
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