The combined number of cases of five infectious diseases have doubled in Somalia since mid-April as aid cuts force hundreds of health clinics to close, with children under five the worst impacted, Save the Children said.

Since April cases of measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, cholera and severe respiratory infections have doubled from about 22,600 to over 46,000 [1], with children under five representing around 60% of cases [2].

At least 357 new suspected cases of measles, diphtheria or cholera – all of which can be prevented by vaccines - were reported among under-fives in the past week alone, according to the Ministry of Health.