In response to the cholera outbreak, and in partnership with local health authorities, MSF has opened a 40-bed cholera treatment Centre (CTC) in Raqqa, with the capacity of the centre recently increased to 60 beds. Within the first two weeks, almost 600 patients were admitted, of which a third is severely ill and another third have been treated as outpatients.

Staff and supply have been increased and we are working together with other local organisations on water and sanitation, including the chlorination of water trucks, water quality assurance and supporting wastewater stations with chlorination processes. The team is using epidemiological data to identify areas in Raqqa that are more affected than others to identify priority areas for support. Assessments have also started in Hassakeh. People there are not dependent on the Euphrates River; the water comes from boreholes and is distributed to the population by water trucks. Yet access to water is very difficult. The main risk is for a water truck to unwittingly source contaminated water.

Community health workers are also working in the CTC, explaining to patients and their families how to treat and reduce the spread of the disease. People are quite shaken by this outbreak, sensing the Euphrates River that they have always used for drinking water is suddenly “not good water anymore”.