Children in Syria at high risk of disease amid water scarcity, summer heat: UNICEF

UN Children's Rights and Emergency Relief Organization (UNICEF) on Friday warned that the dwindling supplies of safe drinking water during Syria's scorching summer months are exposing children to the threat of water-borne diseases.

According to the organization, since the beginning of 2015, Syria has reported 105,886 cases of acute diarrhea, as well as a sharp increase of Hepatitis A cases with a record 1,700 cases reported in one week alone in February.

Furthermore, the intensification of conflict across the country has caused new waves of population displacement, placing further strain on an already fragile water and sanitation network.

"The situation is alarming particularly for children who are especially susceptible to water-borne diseases," says Hanaa Singer, UNICEF's Syria representative.

"With the crisis now in its fifth year, water has become even more scarce and unsafe, and poor hygiene conditions, especially among the displaced communities, are putting more children at severe risk," Singer noted.

According to UNICEF, high fuel prices are another factor impacting civilians' access to water. In Idleb, in the west of Syria, fuel prices have tripled to 500 Syrian pounds (2.65 U.S. dollars per liter).

"Since the beginning of the crisis, we've been working with a range of partners to support the vital water infrastructure on which some 15 million people in Syria depend," says Singer, adding that the organization still needs at least 5 million U.S. dollars in funds by the end of August to meet the water, sanitation and hygiene needs inside Syria. Endit