Contamination of Syria’s Asi River threatens with cholera outbreak
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – City council of Hama, in west-central Syria, warned against repercussions of contamination of Orontes (Asi) River in light of cholera outbreak across the country.
The city council also called for the need to apply violations system and avoid having crops watered by the river’s water.
On September 25, Media office of Health Ministry in the Syrian government announced the total toll of cholera infections had come up to 338, in addition to recording 29 deaths.
Muhammad al-Abaisi, head of health affairs in Hama council, said residents bear part of the responsibility of the contamination.
Residents share the responsibility through accumulating rubbish bags on the river’s banks, as well as waste of solid factories and sewages.
Al-Abaisi demanded violations are applied against factories and companies surrounding the river that violate health conditions.
He added identifying 20.000 Syrian pounds (SYP) as a violation “is not deterrent enough.”
Many health bodies highlighted the importance of securing adequate clean sources for drinking water, since the cholera outbreak is strongly linked to contaminated drinking water and irrigating crops with rivers’ water contaminated with sewages.
Hama Sewerage Company said it organized records against some government authorities and issued 30 ultimatums against private sectors that caused contamination.
Orontes River waters a space of about 3.500 acres situated on its banks, and it supplies irrigation networks that irrigate about 65.000 acres of lands in Ghab Plain west of Hama.