Cholera outbreak worsened by Islamic militants

As a result of famine and certainly not helped by the spread of militant Islam, a cholera epidemic is killing hundreds across Somalia. Seeking help, the starving and sick are forced to flee the countryside and are packing into crowded camps in the capitol city of Mogadishu. 

LOS ANGELES, (Catholic Online) - According to the United Nations World Health Organization, at least 181 people have thus far died from cholera. Of that number, at least 75% have been children. Over 4,000 people are suffering from conditions that indicate they may also be infected.

In addition to the cases being monitored in Mogadishu, there are also multiple confirmed outbreaks throughout the country for which statistics are not yet available. Cholera is a bacterial infection promoted by overcrowding and contaminated water. As long as these conditions persist, experts expect to see a sharp, continual rise in the number of those infected.

Parts of southern Somalia are gripped by famine caused by one of the worst droughts in 60 years. Adding to the suffering, militant warlords and bands of roving Islamic thugs make survival difficult.

The current government of Somalia has a lose control over the capital and little else with Islamic militants controlling the rest of the country. Most notably, the Islamic terrorist group, the Shabab has forced out many western aid organizations preventing the delivery of food, water, and medicine to victims
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Areas controlled by the Shabab are off-limits to UN aid personnel, and people have responded by fleeing to the capitol where the UN is permitted to operate. However, overcrowding in the camps means that diseases such as cholera and measles have started to spread. While these diseases are easily treated and cured using clean water and antibiotics, these supplies are scarce in Somalia.
 
The US government estimates that as many  as 29,000 Somali children have already died in the famine. Many more will surely die unless emergency aid and personnel are permitted to enter the famine stricken zones. Despite hopeful talks, it is unlikely the Shabab will change their anti-western aid stance anytime soon, an inhumane stance that will be measured in human lives.

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