Almost 3 years after Haiti managed to eliminate an outbreak of cholera that began in 2010 and claimed more than 10 thousand people

Haiti's health ministry says the cholera outbreak is growing rapidly, with the number of cases doubling to nearly 2,000 in a matter of days with at least 41 deaths.

"Until a few days ago, the increase in cholera cases was gradual, but now we are seeing an alarmingly sharp increase, so the situation has become even more difficult,"wrote the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, in a blog.

"Although cholera can be fatal, it can be prevented and those infected can be treated," she said, adding that "speed is a key factor to contain the outbreak".

Richardson praised the "immediate and decisive" UN-sponsored action by the Haitian authorities and NGOs, which are still facing acute shortages of clean water and fuel due to the spread of gangs.

The Haitian Ministry of Health announced that between October 19 and 23 the number of suspected cases of infection increased from 964 to 1972, while the number of deaths increased from 33 to 41 deaths.

The vast majority of cases were detected in the province of Ouest, the capital Port-au-Prince in particular, and the poor neighborhood of Sete-Soleil.

According to UNICEF, children under the age of 14 made up about half of the cases, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

He added that the fuel shortage caused by the gang siege of Haiti's main fuel import terminal complicates the work of non-governmental organizations and hinders the supply of clean water necessary to combat cholera.

Richardson said she visited several cholera treatment centers in the most affected neighborhoods of the capital, where she saw heartbreaking scenes such as "children who are so malnourished that it is difficult to inject serum into their arms or legs".

The Haitian government appealed to the international community to provide assistance to reduce the worsening health and security crisis.

The UN Security Council, at the request of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is considering sending an international force to establish order.