Natural Disasters and Humanitarian Crises are happening in the US and worldwide. Natural disasters are catastrophic events and in many cases, they can cause health, economic and social issues. A major infection that can cause death is Cholera which is spread when there is a lack of proper sanitation and a clean water supply. When a natural disaster occurs it is likely the Cholera cases can increase, depending on the level of sanitation and devastation. Researchers have indicated that each year there are more than 21,000 deaths due to Cholera worldwide.
Here’s a look at some of the natural events that have devastated thousands over the last four years and have created severe Cholera and famine cases.
Yemen
It’s been more than two years since Yemen has been war ravaged by repeated bombings and in its wake civil servants have not been paid. This has led to illness as many have not been surviving on proper nutrition because they do not have the money to purchase food. There are reports of more than 2,000 people who have died from Cholera in Yemen since that time. More than 500, 000 have been infected by the water borne disease. The New York Times has deemed it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in 50 years.
Mumbai
Mumbai has been beaten down by heavy showers over the last week.
Regardless of the downpour and heavy showers, life continues through the murky waters. Photographs of parents taking their children to school through unclean waters have surfaced. Residents have been sleeping on steps until the water recedes. Clean water has proven difficult to come by for the poor. Disastrous rainfall in South Asia has led to the deaths of more than 1200 people recently.
A Guardian report by Amrit Dhillon and Carlin Car indicated that 60 per cent of Mumbai’s residents live in slums and more than 50,000 people are homeless. The journalist who interviewed Brijesh Arya, who seeks to empower homeless citizens, said one woman asked for poison so she could die instead of suffering through the conditions.
Somalia
The El Niño phenomenon (a pattern of unusual warming of surface waters) has severely impacted Somalia’s livelihood and food security. According to the United Nations, although there has been a collective effort to ward of the declaration of famine, the threat of famine persists in Somalia. Malnutrition has been the leading cause of this crisis and it is estimated that more than 300,000 children are acutely malnourished. Nearly 895,000 people have been displaced due to drought and other issues. Cholera and measles are a continued cause for concern.
South Sudan
South Sudan has been experiencing three years of civil war which has caused 5.5 million people to be facing hunger. People fled their homes and left behind their livestock and crops in order to survive the war and in February of this year, famine was declared in Leer and Mayendit, two counties in Sudan.
Although the rain has begun to fall bringing hope that crops will be planted, the rains also bring despair as Cholera has started to spread.
Natural disasters and humanitarian crises are happening worldwide causes millions to suffer and flee their homes. There are several websites that you can visit to donate your time, finances and food.
