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Some 193 children in Yemen have died of cholera in the first half of 2019, said Save The Children (STC) Tuesday, exceeding the tally in previous year 2018.
The cholera-associated deaths have increased in Yemen during the first six months of 2019, hitting as many as 9 times of those who died of the disease in the same period of last year, the London-based organization added in a release.
Heavy rains these days in Yemen could further increase the spread of the waterborne epidemic, the STC warned.
Number of the suspected cases was relatively stable for few weeks, said the STC country director in Yemen, but the disease is endemic, and rains and floods are yet feared to lead to sharp rise.
As the conflict is continuing, clean water networks fail, amid very low aid funding in Yemen. "All what we can do is to try to keep the largest possible number of children alive," Tamir Kirls added.
Yemen's health system suffers great pressures, with only half of the health facilities functioning and the rest closed or partially working. Disease outbreaks are now caused by health system collapse, weak sanitation systems, people becoming more vulnerable to displacement, and malnutrition, said he.
Yemen's conflict has left large deal of water and sanitation infrastructure out of service, denying some 9.2 million children access to drinking water.
Malnourished children are particularly vulnerable to be affected by cholera and associated diseases, meaning weak immunity and death risk.
The STC called warring parties to resume application of Stockholm deal and seek sustainable peace, as urgent actions are needed to rebuild the health system and avoid more deaths of preventable diseases.
The charity also urged official authorities to assure regular, full payment for civil servants, especially health workers and teachers, and to equip health facilities with the most needed staff to ensure sustainable health service.
Yemen 4-year war has left tens of thousands killed, triggering what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with most of the population in need for a type of humanitarian aid and immediate protection, including 14 million people risking famine and some 1.8 million children suffering malnutrition.
