Delama Georges' mother is in a coma. His father died.
Both of his parents contracted cholera while visiting Georges' sister in Haiti, according to Al Jazeera English. More than 8,500 Haitians died after being infected by cholera in a scourge that started four years ago.
Haiti had not experience cholera for at least a century prior to this outbreak, according to Al Jazeera. In 2010, the United Nations sent a "peacekeeping force" from Nepal to Haiti. At the time, there was a swell of cholera infections in Nepal. The soldiers sent to Haiti were stationed near the Artibonite, the longest river in Haiti that serves as the primary water source for the area.
A smell started to rise. Journalists and scientists investigated. A buried septic tank inside the camp was overflowing and contaminated the water supply, according to Al Jazeera. The strain of cholera in the drinking water showed relation to the strain in Nepal.
The U.N. denies any blame and cites a "confluence of circumstances," not the soldiers, were responsible for the start of the epidemic, according to Al Jazeera. The U.N. also cites diplomatic immunity.
On Thursday, a judge will decide if the suit filed by Delama Georges and four other plaintiffs should move forward.
"The case is indefensible both legally and morally from the U.N.'s perspective," said Brian Concannon, the lead attorney at the Boston-based Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, according to Al Jazeera.
