Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 28th March. UN humanitarian affairs coordination office on Wednesday alarmed over the spread of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea in Somalia, which is facing multiple crises.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefed reporters in New York said that 4,400 cases and 54 deaths had been recorded half of all districts in Somalia, since the beginning of the year.
Over 60 per cent of the deaths are reportedly among children under five, he said.
WHO said cases this year are three times higher than the previous three-year average and Somalia is among the countries most severely impacted by cholera and acute watery diarrhoea.
Mr. Dujarric said “We, along with our humanitarian partners, are working with Somalia’s health authorities to step up preparation and response efforts, in line with a six-month plan of action that will require nearly $6 million”.
He said that there are severe shortages in the number of available oral cholera vaccine doses, while aid organizations are pre-positioning treatment kits and working on surveillance and case management.
“However, we urgently need additional funding”, he continued.
Dujarric added “This year’s humanitarian appeal for Somalia is only 10 per cent funded. We have about $150 million received out of the nearly $1.6 billion that are needed.
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