Unicef ​​activates emergency response to cholera in Lebanon

(ANSA) – ROME, OCTOBER 19 – Unicef ​​has activated its emergency response to cholera, together with the Ministry of Health and other partners, to help protect children and families by containing the disease, after the confirmation of a case of cholera in Akkar governorate, northern Lebanon, by the Ministry of Public Health. An integrated, multi-sectoral response was immediately launched in high-risk areas to ensure children and families have access to safe water, sanitation and personal hygiene supplies, a statement said on Wednesday. Among other things, the organization delivered essential supplies, including water purification tablets, disinfection kits, family hygiene kits and bottled water. UNICEF also procured 100 kits of emergency medicines, including oral rehydration salts (ORS), and 22 kits of medical supplies. “UNICEF is making significant efforts to support the Ministry of Public Health’s preparedness, prevention and response measures to help protect all children and families in Lebanon from the spread of cholera,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon. The war is damaging, interrupting and putting a strain on water and sanitation services. Limited access to safe water and adequate sanitation, especially in displacement sites and overcrowded camps, increases the risk of the spread of cholera. Children, especially those under the age of 5, those who have never been vaccinated and those suffering from malnutrition are particularly at risk. (HANDLE).