Somalian health authorities on Wednesday confirmed an outbreak of acute diarrhea that has killed 15 people in the central region of Hiraan.
Hirshabelle State health minister Abdi Mo’alim Mohamed told reporters that acute diarrhea broke out in Beledweyne town causing deaths.
“Acute Watery Diarrhoea killed up to 15 people mainly children with more than 60 other people suffering from the disease,” Mohamed said.
The minister also appealed to humanitarian agencies to deliver assistance to the region, a Xinhua news agency report said.
“We are in shortage of medical equipment, hence we appeal to the international and local humanitarian agencies to help the victims in the region,” he added.
Medical sources also say the number of patients is increasing by the day.
“From Friday to date, more than 65 people have been admitted into hospitals, they come from distant areas of the region and hospitals are now overcrowded with patients,” Abdul Halim, director of the main hospital in Beledweyne town told journalists.
The outbreak follows November 2019’s major flooding in Beledweyne which displaced over 300,000 people.
According to UN reports in 2019, almost 85 per cent of the town was submerged in water after Shabelle River breached its banks.
Acute diarrhea kills 15 people in Somalia, over 65 hospitalised
