Dead bodies are poisoning water supply in Mariupol - mayorpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 10 June 2022
Diana Kuryshko
BBC Ukrainian correspondent
More now from the mayor of Mariupol, who is no longer in the city but has been speaking to the BBC about the situation there, saying there is evidence of a cholera outbreak in Mariupol, and dozens may be sick.
"They are scared of the situation with the disease because it discredits them," said Vadym Boychenko.
"There are a lot of dead in Mariupol. They have not cleared the bodies of those they killed in the bombings. Many bodies are still under the ruins. The problem is compounded by the absence of garbage collection – the system hasn’t been functioning since February."
Boychenko said the situation was being made worse by it now being summer and hot - with heavy rain ruining makeshift burial places - and a lack of functioning water and sewerage systems.
"The resulting mix flows towards rivers and wells, where people draw and use it. This water is already poisoned. It has already propagated throughout the city. The occupation authorities bring water to the city, but not enough. People still go to the wells and take that poisoned water."
The mayor said measures are being taken to prevent the spread of the disease to other regions of Ukraine. “People travelling from Mariupol to the territories under Ukrainian control will be tested for cholera symptoms," he said.