Syria: UN teams support cholera vaccination in northeastern camps
3 January 2025
Geneva/Damascus – After cholera cases were detected in northeastern Syria, the United Nations has supported the vaccination of tens of thousands of people in Al Hol and Areesha camps to prevent the spread of the disease.
The vaccinations, which target people at high risk of contracting cholera, are part of a larger UN response to the cholera outbreak that includes providing clean water and sanitation, distributing hygiene kits, and raising awareness about how to prevent the disease.
“We are working closely with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and local health authorities to control this outbreak and prevent further transmission,” said Imran Riza, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria. “Cholera is a serious disease, but it can be prevented with the right measures in place.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 10,000 cases of cholera have been reported in Syria since the outbreak began in August 2022. The majority of cases have been in the northeast, where there are large populations of internally displaced people living in camps.
The vaccination campaign is targeting people over the age of one in Al Hol and Areesha camps. The two camps are home to more than 60,000 people, including many women and children who are particularly vulnerable to cholera.
The UN is also working to improve water and sanitation conditions in the camps, which are essential for preventing the spread of cholera. This includes distributing clean water to households, installing handwashing stations, and building new latrines.
“We are doing everything we can to prevent the further spread of cholera,” said Dr. Nizar Ahmed, a WHO representative in Syria. “The vaccination campaign, combined with our other efforts, is essential to protect the health of the people in these camps.”
The UN is calling for international support to help control the cholera outbreak in Syria. This support includes funding for the vaccination campaign, as well as for water and sanitation projects.
“We need the international community to step up and help us prevent a major cholera outbreak in Syria,” said Riza. “We cannot do this alone.”
Syria: UN teams support cholera vaccination in northeastern camps
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