Jemen: Cholera-Fälle steigen dramatisch

Eingebetteter Medieninhalt

Pressemitteilung von Save the Children

In der Küstenregion Hodeidah im Jemen hat es einen dramatischen Anstieg von Cholera gegeben. Die heftigen Regen und die Hitzewelle haben dazu geführt, dass allein in den letzten drei Wochen ist die Anzahl der Erkrankten um 40% gestiegen ist. Die Region Hodeidahhat ohnehin schon die höchsten Raten an Mangelernährung. Jedes vierte Kind unter fünf Jahren leidet unter akuter Mangelernährung. Mehr Informationen entnehmen Sie unserer Pressemeldung – aus Aktualitätsgründen auf Englisch.

Zusatz-Information zu Deutschland:
Mit einem Projektvolumen von insgesamt zwei Millionen Euro unterstützt das Auswärtige Amt die humanitäre Arbeit von Save the Children. Dadurch wird u.a. lebenswichtige Hilfe für mangelernährte Kinder, Schwangere und stillende Mütter gewährleistet. Zudem können mit zusätzlichen Mitteln des Berliner Appells „Gemeinsam gegen Hungersnot“ z.B. lebensrettende Cholera - Behandlungszentren eingerichtet und betrieben werden.

Bei Fragen wenden Sie sich bitte an die Pressestelle. Interviewwünsche koordiniert Natasha dos Santos (Natasha.dossantos@savethechildren.org / +44 7787 191957).

Alarming cholera spike in Yemen coastal region

An outbreak of cholera has spiked dramatically in several areas of Yemen, including its largest governorate of Hodeidah, Save the Children is warning. Recent health figures from the WHO reveal a far more mixed picture than reports of a nationwide slow-down have previously suggested.

In the coastal Hodeidah Governorate, where the charity runs malnutrition and cholera treatment centres, suspected cholera cases have jumped by 40% over the past three weeks amid heavy rains and a heatwave. Some districts are now reporting weekly caseload figures more than double their previous peaks.

Hodeidah also has some of the worst malnutrition rates in the country, with an estimated one in four children under the age of five suffering from acute malnutrition. Save the Children has previously warned of the deadly link between hunger and cholera, with malnourished children at least three times more likely to die from diarrhoeal diseases.Neighbouring Raymah Governorate has seen an 18% increase in suspected cases over the past three weeks, while the southern port of Aden has seen a 12% jump.

Tamer Kirolos, Save the Children Country Director in Yemen, said:“This epidemic has spread at a frightening rate, and it’s clear we’re far from seeing the end of it. Given the ongoing bombing and restrictions on bringing life-saving aid into the country, aid agencies are struggling to get cholera under control. Just when we think we’ve got it under control in one area, it suddenly spikes elsewhere.

“We need to get more medical supplies, fuel and food into Yemen and to the children who need it without delay. The warring parties that are obstructing the country’s ports, roads and airspace are directly responsible for this cholera outbreak and must immediately facilitate humanitarian relief.”

Suspected cholera cases nationwide have declined from a peak of about 50,000 weekly cases at the end of June – but that drop stalled three weeks ago. Levels now remain at about 35,000 new cases every week.In the last four months, there have been more than 591,100 suspected cases of cholera and 2,035 deaths, according to WHO figures from 30 August. Children make up an increasing proportion of both suspected cases and deaths – representing 54% of cholera infections and nearly a third of all deaths.

For more information or to arrange interviews with spokespeople in London or Yemen, please contact Natasha.dossantos@savethechildren.org / +44 7787 191957

· In the week ending 27^th August, 4,979 suspected cholera cases were reported in Hodeidah Governorate, a 44% jump from 3,468 cases three weeks earlier. See here for more information.

· Hodeidah’s Az Zaydiyah District is reporting more than 800 weekly suspected cholera cases, almost three times the highest levels reported to date. Other recent spikes have been noted in Bajil, Zabid, Al Kawkhah and Al Maraw’iah districts.

· According to data from Yemen’s nutrition cluster, Hodeidah Governorate is reporting acute malnutrition rates of 27% for children aged 6-59 months.

· Malnourished children are 6.3x (Severe Acute Malnutrition) and 2.9x (Moderate Acute Malnutrition) more likely to die from diarrhoealdiseases than well-nourished children. See here for more information.

· See here for WHO’s latest update on weekly and nationwide suspected cases of cholera.

· Save the Children currently operates 14 cholera treatment centres and more than 90 rehydration units across Yemen, including in the worst affected areas of Hodeidah Governorate. The charity also supports 97 fixed health facilities and 10 mobile health and nutrition teams.