UNITED NATIONS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2018) Yemen may be facing a third wave of the cholera epidemic, with over 1 million suspected cases since April 2017, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said Wednesday.
"The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the number of suspected cholera cases in Yemen is reportedly increasing, raising concerns of a possible 'third wave' of the epidemic. Since April 2017, more than 1.1 million suspected cases and more than 2,300 associated deaths have been reported, making it the largest outbreak on record," Stephane Dujarric said, according to a statement on the UN website.
According to Dujarric, the UN humanitarian service was concerned with the local residents' access to healthcare, water and sanitation, which was crucial in preventing an outbreak.
The embattled country has been gripped by a civil war for years. One of the sides in a protracted conflict is backed by a coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia. The coalition has been carrying out airstrikes in Yemen and restricting shipping, which often left the civilian population in need of essentials.
