On Tues., the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Imran Riza, expressed concern over an outbreak of cholera in the country, calling for urgent action to combat its spread.
More than 900 suspected cases have been reported and eight deaths were confirmed, with the outbreak being concentrated in the provinces of Aleppo and Deir al-Zour.
The WHO has been warning for years that contagious diseases are on the rise as a result of climate change. Climate-sensitive diseases like cholera will worsen as temperatures rise and extreme weather events increase in frequency. When these conditions collide in developing nations like Syria - which have little means to protect themselves - catastrophe can follow.
This cholera outbreak isn't related to climate change. It's a direct consequence of Turkey's seizing the Euphrates River's water as Ankara has turned Syria's water reserves into a swamp. By dropping the water level to a record low, Turkey has created the conditions for water contamination and now it's the Syrian people who are paying the price. This is a geopolitical issue.