For centuries, the Euphrates River has been the artery of life in eastern Syria. Today, in Deir ez-Zor, it has turned into a source of fear. Life continues around the banks of the river, while residents tell stories of cholera turning its waters into a slow poison.
A mother weeps for her child, a doctor fights without tools, and an official cries out in a valley of neglect. Abu Ali, a resident of Harabesh town in Deir ez-Zor countryside, told +963: “Water has become a curse. A month ago, my son drank from our household well. Within hours he suffered severe diarrhea, and we rushed him to the hospital unconscious. The doctor confirmed it was cholera.”
He added: “Now we rely on buying bottled water from shops, but most neighbors cannot afford it. Many boil well water, while others fetch it from the river because they have no filters at home, especially with electricity cuts.”
He pointed out: “Many have died from dehydration. Cholera is ravaging us, and poverty prevents us from survival. There is no awareness campaign telling people the water is contaminated. Had we known, no one would have drunk from it. On top of this, hospitals are overcrowded, whether with cholera cases or other diseases. Medicine in private clinics and pharmacies is extremely expensive.”
Many challenges
Umm Saeb, from eastern rural Deir ez-Zor, told +963: “We no longer know which challenge we face. The air is polluted, the water is polluted, all because of human factors. I fear opening the window because of the smell of open sewage. Every month, one of the children gets sick, either from contaminated food, sewage water, or unwashed vegetables. Do not be surprised if I tell you that cholera never leaves the house.”
She added: “The situation is very difficult. We lose our children because of the lack of awareness that makes cholera spread quickly. The main reason is the water we drink, it is unsafe. I want to tell everyone to be cautious and make sure of their water sources. We must cooperate to protect each other.”
Relief worker Mohammad al-Awad, with the organization Insaf in Deir ez-Zor, told +963 “The disaster is man-made. Eighty percent of water stations in Deir ez-Zor are out of service because of bombardment, and sewage networks have been destroyed for years. People drink from the Euphrates, polluted by sewage and industrial waste. The biggest challenge is the lack of chlorine and rehydration medicines.”
He added: “In the last two months, we have documented around 800 confirmed cases, but the real numbers are much higher. International organizations are moving with deadly slowness.”
Dr. Mohammad al-Aswad, of Hajin General Hospital in Deir ez-Zor, told +963: “We are facing the catastrophe with primitive means. Beds fill the corridors. There is a severe shortage of rehydration solutions and antibiotics. Most patients arrive at an advanced stage because of the distance from villages. We have only one dialysis machine, and electricity is often cut. Sadly, more than 30% of the deaths are children.”
He called for urgent medical support before the outbreak becomes a mass tragedy: “The situation is extremely worrying. We receive many cholera cases every day. Hospitals are suffering from a severe shortage of medicines and equipment. Other challenges include lack of resources, a high number of patients, and difficulties reaching rural areas where most cases are concentrated.”
He stressed the need to increase awareness and provide proper treatment, underlining the importance of greater international support to improve health services.
Lack of funding
Turki al-Salem, an official in Deir ez-Zor’s Water Department, told +963: “The problem is not only technical; the main stations were bombed during the war, and rehabilitating them will take years. The real challenge is the lack of funding: there is no budget for chlorine, spare parts, or even the tankers we use to distribute water, they are falling apart.”
He added: “Even worse, some artesian wells are drilled randomly, contaminating underground water layers. The only solution is urgent international support and the delivery of mobile desalination units. Sadly, water itself has become the main reason we are failing to combat cholera, as many residents rely on unsafe sources that increase the risk of infection.”
He confirmed that the water units are “trying to repair networks and provide clean water to affected communities, but the task requires enormous resources.”
Abdullah al-Sultan, an official in Deir ez-Zor’s Health Department, told +963: “We are making great efforts to fight the disease, including vaccination campaigns and raising awareness about the dangers of cholera. Unfortunately, hospitals send us daily appeals as cases rise, and we are nearly powerless to contain the epidemic. We face challenges such as lack of funding, shortage of medical staff, and difficulty reaching remote areas.”
He added: “We are working on long-term strategies to improve health infrastructure and provide better services. We distribute chlorine tablets free of charge despite shortages, and we try to isolate the worst-affected villages. But obstacles remain, especially since most specialist doctors have left the country.”
