Sulaymaniyah health officials report no recent cholera cases but warn of heightened risk due to water scarcity

SULAYMANIYAH — The Sulaymaniyah Health Directorate confirmed Saturday that no new cases of cholera have been recorded in the governorate in recent weeks, but officials urged residents to ensure their drinking water is safe amid rising concerns over water quality and supply.

“So far, no cholera cases have been recorded within our jurisdiction,” said Sabah Hawrami, general director of health in Sulaymaniyah, during a seminar on health sector challenges attended by local specialists and academics. “However, citizens must ensure the water they consume is clean.”

Hawrami also noted that the directorate continues to face severe funding constraints, contributing to shortages in medicine and medical supplies. “We have no available funds,” he said.

The warning follows a July 20 press conference where Hawrami cautioned that cholera risks are higher this year due to low rainfall and increased reliance on untreated spring water. “As the Sulaymaniyah Health Directorate, we have taken the necessary precautions,” he said at the time. “But I also call on residents to be very cautious when using drinking water, because water is scarce and many people are turning to spring water. Not all spring water is suitable for drinking.”

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Health Ministry reported in September 2024 that 28 cholera cases had been recorded across the Kurdistan Region earlier in the year — 12 in Erbil and 16 in Sulaymaniyah. All patients recovered, and the ministry declared the outbreak “under control.”

In 2023, Sulaymaniyah recorded over 130 confirmed cholera cases.