NEW YORK: The explosion of cholera cases in war-torn Yemen
is a “hideous milestone”, according to the International Committee of
the Red Cross.
The number of suspected cases has now
passed the one million mark, making it the worst cholera epidemic on
record, the IRC said in a statement.
A desperate shortage
of clean water, food and fuel has left health authorities and
humanitarian organisations in Yemen powerless to stop the disease. The
outbreak of cholera in October last year has killed more than 2,200
people the United Nations said.
The Red Cross said more
than 80 per cent of Yemen’s population lacked access to clean water and
medicine, largely because of a Saudi-led blockade on aid shipments into
the country.
