Situation in Mariupol critical due to mass graves and lack of drinking water – head of sanitation

MYKHAILO ZAHORODNII – 6 JUNE 2022

Sanitation is extremely inadequate in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, with a high risk of infectious disease outbreaks. There is a threat of a cholera epidemic in Mariupol.

According to Ihor Kuzin, Chief State Sanitary doctor of Ukraine, this is complicated by the fact that the Ministry of Health of Ukraine has no access to complete information about the epidemiological conditions in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Kuzin shared his views during a press-conference on 6 June.

Kuzin said that the situation in Mariupol requires particularly urgent attention due to the widespread mass graves and lack of access to clean drinking water.

"We frequently receive information about burial sites found in inappropriate locations, which can lead to water contamination. For this reason, people who live in such places have to be particularly careful when using water from wells and water mains; such water must undergo thermal treatment," Kuzin said.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine said that infectious disease outbreaks can be avoided, but unhygienic conditions, water supply issues, and problems with water treatment facilities might potentially give rise to an outbreak of acute infectious diseases (in particular, gastrointestinal diseases) in the Russian-occupied territories.

"The risk will continue to rise, especially considering the air temperature, since warm weather can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases," Kuzin said.

He confirmed that the risk of cholera outbreaks is particularly high in Donetsk Oblast, and in particular in Mariupol.

According to the head of sanitation, cholera outbreaks have occurred in Mariupol and Donetsk Oblast before.

Kuzin noted that residents of the region should familiarise themselves with cholera symptoms and what to do in case they begin to experience those symptoms.

"As of 1 June, we have also intensified our surveillance of all cholera cases and suspected cholera cases," he said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine said that the threat of infectious disease outbreaks was heightened in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, and Sumy oblasts.