New York: UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon says that the World Health Organisation and the Pan-American Health Organisation now estimate that the cholera epidemic in Haiti could affect as many as 6,50,000 people over the next six months.
Reporting to the General Assembly on Friday, Ban also said that UN teams believe that the official numbers of 1,800 deaths and nearly 81,000 infected could in fact be double because of difficulties in reporting.
He says there is an urgent need in Haiti for more cholera treatment centres, and another 350 doctors, 2,000 nurses and 2,200 support staff to run them.
He is also calling on the world`s nations to contribute more to the organisation`s appeal for USD 164 million to contain the outbreak, saying it`s still only 20 percent funded.
PTI
