Somalia is already in deep trouble and now cholera is sweeping across the nation at devastating speeds as tens of thousands of starving people flee famine zones and pack into crowded camps in the capital of Mogadishu. More than 100,000 people have recently fled famine areas and settled in make-shift camps in Mogadishu, which have become breeding grounds for measles, cholera and other diseases.

One hundred eighty one people are reportedly dead from suspected cholera cases in just a single hospital in Mogadishu and there have been several other confirmed cholera outbreaks across the country.

Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesman for the World Health Organization said:

“We don’t see the end of it. As long as we have people on the move, in crowded places and using contaminated water, we will see a rise in cases. All the causes are still there. Cholera is moving so fast from one person to another. It’s an epidemic for sure.”

The famine, which drives masses to camps yields heightened risk of cholera. The American government estimates that at least 29,000 Somali children have died so far from the famine and many more are expected to die unless emergency food and trained medical personnel can reach the famine areas soon.

Marthe Everard, WHO’s Representative for Somalia states:

“The situation will worsen further in the coming months due to poor harvests, malnutrition, unhygienic living conditions and infectious disease outbreaks, such as measles, acute watery diarrhea and pneumonia. In addition to buying food and supplying safe drinking-water and shelter, we need more resources to provide emergency health services to save the lives of thousands of Somalis.”

Cholera, one of the developing world’s worst scourges, is caused by a bacteria that infects the small intestine and is spread through dirty water. It is easily treated with oral rehydration salts and antibiotics. However, many health centers in Somalia lack even these basic supplies and as a result, those who get cholera, especially children, can die of dehydration within days or even hours of being infected.

The number of cholera cases reported in and around Mogadishu is rising, particularly in informal settlements. Eighteen cases have been confirmed last week on a random collection of 30 samples. Since January, 4272 acute watery diarrhea cases have been reported in Mogadishu’s Banadir Hospital.

Children under five account for 75% of all cases. This increase is due to poor sanitation, limited access to safe water and health services and high malnutrition rates among children. WHO has already dispersed 19 diarrheal disease kits to affected areas in Somalia, each providing enough to treat 100 severe or 400 mild cases.

Aside from disease and famine, the WHO is concerned about the steep rise in the numbers of children under five years old who have been wounded in Somalia’s latest outbreak of violence. The number of patients treated for weapon-related injuries at Mogadishu’s three main hospitals reached a new peak in May 2011.

Almost half the 1590 injuries reported were in children under five, compared to only 3.5% in April.

Marthe Everard continues:

“Many of these children are suffering from very severe wounds, burns and other injuries from bullets, blast injuries and shrapnel.”

Written by Sy Kraft