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A30 world news
Diahuebs 22 september 2022

Growing cholera outbreak in Syria infects hundreds, 39 dead

(AP) — A deadly chol- The outbreak hit govern- 16 deaths since Sept. 5, and cholerae in the Euphrates whole world.
era outbreak in Syria has ment-held parts of the coun- 2,867 suspected cases of river where water levels have
killed at least 39 people try as well as the areas in the cholera. In the rebel-held dropped. The cases were reported in
and infected hundreds northeast. Syria's health ser- northwest, the first case was several provinces, includ-
more this past month, vices have suffered heavily reported this week. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the ing Aleppo and Raqqa in the
health officials said from its yearslong war and World Health Organization's north, Latakia on the Medi-
Wednesday, raising con- much of the country is short The cholera outbreak is the regional director, told The terranean coast, and Deir el-
cerns about whether the on cleaning water supplies. first in Syria since the conflict Associated Press on Monday Zour along the border with
war-torn country can put began in March 2011. The that a plane carrying medi- Iraq.
a stop to its spread. In government-held areas, civil war has killed hundreds cal supplies to deal with the
the Health Ministry reported of thousands and displaced spread of cholera landed The Syrian Health Ministry
The U.N. and Syria's Health 23 deaths, 20 of them in the half the country's pre-war in the capital Damascus on advised people to make sure
Ministry have said the source northern province of Aleppo population, many of whom Monday and another one was they drink water coming
of the outbreak is believed to in addition to at least 253 now live in crowded tent set- expected on Wednesday. from "a secure source" and
be linked to people drinking cases. tlements. if that is not available people
unsafe water from the Eu- Al-Mandhari added that Syr- should boil water then pre-
phrates River and using con- In areas of northeast Syria Mustafa, the health official ian health authorities are co- serve it in a clean and closed
taminated water to irrigate controlled by U.S.-backed speaking in the northern ordinating with the interna- gallon container.
crops, resulting in food con- Kurdish-led fighters, Jwan town of Qamishli, said the tional organization to contain
tamination. Mustafa, the top health of- main cause of the outbreak the outbreak calling it a threat
ficial in the region reported is the presence of vibrio to Syria, the region and the

UK government caps energy bills for businesses for 6 months

though critics predicted it hit 10.1% in July, though it caps average household bills
would lead to higher interest decreased slightly to 9.9% in for heating and electricity
rates and government debt. August. Britons were accus- at 2,500 pounds ($2,872) a
tomed for years to an average year. The household aver-
Officials have not provided inflation rate of around 2%. age was expected to rise to
details on how much the 3,500 pounds ($4,000) a year
support package will cost, Officials are expected to push beginning in October, an
but it is expected to run to through emergency legisla- 80% jump from the current
billions of pounds (dollars). tion for the relief plans once average annual bill of 1,971
Accountancy firm PwC es- Parliament returns in Octo- pounds ($2,236).
timated the measure to help ber.
businesses could cost from Russia's war in Ukraine and
10 to 20 billion pounds. The British Beer and Pub As- the political fallout from in-
sociation and UK Hospitality ternational sanctions have
The news followed similar were among the trade bodies triggered an energy crisis by
measures announced earlier that welcomed the news, say- reducing supplies of cheap
(AP) — Britain's govern- "We're going to review it af- this month to cap domestic ing the unprecedented gov- natural gas that the continent
ment said Wednesday it ter six months. We'll make energy prices to help millions ernment intervention would depended on for years.
will cap wholesale energy sure that the most vulner- of people heat their homes provide a lifeline for many
bills for businesses this able businesses like pubs, like amid a cost-of-living crisis. businesses. Britain is more vulnerable to
winter to ensure compa- shops, continue to be sup- volatility in international gas
nies don't go bust amid ported after that," said Prime Spiraling gas and electricity But some groups expressed prices than some other Euro-
soaring energy prices. Minister Liz Truss, who is in bills, together with steeply worry that the price cap was a pean countries because it im-
New York to attend the U.N. rising food costs, have driven short-term fix and said com- ports most of its natural gas
Authorities said the govern- General Assembly. inflation in the U.K. to its panies needed a longer-term — though largely from Nor-
ment will pick up nearly half highest level in decades. The solution to make plans to in- way, not Russia. Compared
of all business energy bills for U.K. Treasury chief Kwasi Bank of England expects the vest or grow. to residential properties in
six months starting Oct. 1 to Kwarteng said the govern- economy to go into a reces- Europe, U.K. homes also rely
ensure companies "are able to ment measures would "stop sion next year. Truss announced a two-year more heavily on gas for heat-
get through this winter." businesses collapsing, pro- "energy price guarantee" for ing and generating electricity.
tect jobs and limit inflation," The consumer price index consumers on Sept. 8 that

Thousands rally in Belgium to protest high energy prices

(AP) — Thousands of "Everything is going up ex- and aim in particular to re- are meeting next week to dis-
people gathered on cept our wages," or carry- We are reaching a point duce demand during peak cuss the crisis.
Wednesday in the Belgian ing placards marked "Freeze where our wallets can't keep hours. EU energy ministers
capital Brussels for "a na- prices, not people." City traf- up," said Pascal Kraeso, a pro-
tional day of action" to fic and public transportation tester from Brussels.
protest against skyrocket- was disrupted.
ing electricity, natural gas Last month, Prime Minister
and food prices and draw A Belgian media poll this Alexander de Croo warned
attention to the sharp hike week showed that 64% of that "the next five to 10 win-
in the cost of living. people questioned are con- ters will be difficult" because
cerned that they might not be of high electricity and natural
Trade unions and city police able to afford their electric- gas prices fueled by Russia's
said that around 10,000 took ity and gas bills, which have war in Ukraine.
part. People from across the more than doubled over the
country gathered, march- last year, while 80% of re- The European Union's 27
ing behind banners reading spondents said they are al- member countries have
"Life is much too expensive, ready trying to make energy agreed to cut gas usage by
we want solutions now," and and water savings. 15% on average this winter,