Cholera outbreak claims 145 lives in Somalia amid ongoing health crisis

A cholera outbreak in Somalia has resulted in the deaths of at least 145 people since the year began, according to a report released by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday.

The report also notes that 11 deaths have occurred in the past two weeks.

The cholera outbreak, attributed to prolonged rainfall in October and November 2023, and flash floods, has led to a total of 15,938 reported cases in Somalia since the start of the year.

Of the 4,388 confirmed cases for 2024, over 59 per cent, or 2,605 cases, are children under five, based on data from Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Human Services.

The Southern States, particularly the Banadir region, have seen a significant increase in cholera cases over the last two weeks, with 586 new cases reported from 23 districts. This includes 331 children under five.

Mohamed Abdiladif, Acting Country Director for Somalia at Save the Children, expressed concern that the cholera outbreak could worsen with the upcoming rainy season if urgent measures are not taken to provide clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Multiple hardships

He noted that these vulnerable communities have already faced multiple hardships, including displacement due to flooding and conflict.

"We are concerned that the cholera outbreak will spiral out of control when the rainy season starts in a month if urgent action is not taken by the government," said Mohamed.

The report by WHO and the Ministry of Health highlights the lack of access to safe water and adequate sanitation as key factors contributing to the escalating cholera outbreak in Somalia.

It also points to inadequate healthcare facilities as a continuing challenge, increasing the risk of maternal and infant mortality and the spread of preventable diseases like cholera.

"Access to healthcare continues to be a challenge with inadequate functional health facilities, which among other health risks, heightens the risk of maternal and infant mortality and increases rates of preventable diseases like cholera," read part of the report.

Some districts, particularly in South West State, have seen a significant reduction in cholera cases in June, while new cases have emerged in some districts of Hirshabelle State.

According to the WHO, Somalia has experienced uninterrupted acute watery diarrhoea/cholera transmission since 2022, with the Banadir region being the most affected since the drought of 2017.

In 2023, more than 18,300 cholera cases were recorded in Somalia, including 10,000 among children under five.

Save the Children noted that the El Niño flooding in November and December destroyed toilets and latrines, forcing communities, especially newly displaced families, into open defecation. The situation poses a continuing risk of cholera transmission as the country braces for the next rainy season.