Cholera outbreak kills 20 in Somali capital

[March 12, 2011]  MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- Doctors say a cholera outbreak in Somalia's war-ravaged capital has killed more than 20 people.

Dr. Lul Mohamed said Saturday that Banadir maternity hospital has seen more than 150 cholera patients in the past week. She says the hospital is low on supplies and cash to pay health workers.

She says many of patients are children from camps for displaced families, some of whom fled after weeks of a government-led offensive against insurgents.

Deputy health minister Osman Liban says he was not aware of the outbreak but would investigate.

Somalia has not had a functioning government for more than 20 years. The arid Horn of Africa nation is currently suffering from a drought and there are few sources of clean water.

[Associated Press]

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