MOGADISHU (SD) -Up to 37 people have died from the cholera outbreak that hit Somalia since January, indicating the spreading of the disease, according to the Somali Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services reported a significant increase in cholera cases, with a total of 3,365 cases reported.

“Starting from January 2024, several districts in Somalia have been heavily affected by the cholera outbreak, with the most affected district being Beledweyne, accounting for 604 cases (approximately 18 percent of the total),” the ministry said in its latest report on infectious diseases.

The ministry attributed the cholera outbreak in Somalia to the increasing number of people lacking access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities.

Moreover, the country has experienced a drought resulting from El Nino, affecting more than 2.5 million people, with 1.2 million facing displacement.