Ukraine's Mariupol City At Risk Of Cholera Outbreak

Ukraine's city of Mariupol is at risk of a major cholera outbreak, Britain's defence ministry said on Friday.

This is as medical services are already near collapse and a likely critical shortage of medicines.

The ministry added that Russia is also struggling to provide basic public services to the population in Russian-occupied territories.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) Ukraine Incident Manager, Dorit Nitzan, said Mariupol, which is now controlled by Russian forces, was among the areas at risk of cholera.

Cholera is an acute form of diarrhoea caused by a germ which is typically transmitted by poor sanitation as one becomes infected when they swallow food or water carrying the bug and can lead to death if untreated.