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Lebanon reports cholera spread among Syrian refugees

Most cases are among Syrians in refugee camps. WHO also announced an outbreak of cholera in 10 Syrian governorates and warns that the spread could be catastrophic

October 19, 2022 at 3:50 pm

Lebanon has reported widespread cholera among Syrian refugees in the country, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Health Minister, Firas Abiad, said 80 new cases of cholera were recorded in Lebanon, taking the nationwide tally to 169.

“Five people have, so far, died from the illness,” he added at a press conference in the capital, Beirut.

“A total of 70 per cent of the cholera infections in Lebanon are among Syrian refugees,” the Minister said.

Lebanon reported its first case of cholera on 6 October in the northern Akkar province.

Lebanon hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees, about 900,000 of whom are registered with UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Most of the refugees suffer from tough living conditions, especially with the exacerbation of the Lebanese economic crisis on one hand and the global economic crisis on the other.

READ: Cholera continues to spread in Syria