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15 May 2017, 11:41

Yemen declares health emergency in Sanaa as cholera spreads

SANAA, 15 May (BelTA - Xinhua) - Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population on Sunday night declared a public health emergency in the capital Sanaa as a result of the spreading cholera epidemic, which has killed 115 people so far since April 27, the country's state news agency Saba reported late on Sunday.

The ministry sent an urgent call to all international and local health organizations to help address the worsening situation, in which the ministry said that the situation "is threatening with an unprecedented health and humanitarian disaster."

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned Sunday of a very serious cholera outbreak in Yemen as hospitals are struggling to cope with increasing numbers of patients.

At a press conference in Sanaa, the ICRC Operations Director Dominik Stillhart said more than 8,500 suspected cholera cases have been reported in 14 governorates of Yemen from April 27 to May 13.

"Unfortunately, 115 people have died from cholera (during this period). This is extremely serious," he said.

"The conflict has taken a very serious toll on the water supply, the health system, the sanitation system as well as the economy and that all are about to collapse," he added.

The cholera outbreak in Yemen was first announced by Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population on Oct. 6, 2016.

The World Health Organization has warned the healthcare system in Yemen is on the verge of collapse as many hospitals have shut down. It said only 45 percent of Yemen's hospitals are operational at the moment, but are facing shortages of supplies and staffs.

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