Rain brings new health fears for displaced in Darfur camps

26/06/2013 22:05

The arrival of the rainy season has advanced the spread of diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, urinary retention and conjunctivitis in Kalma camp near to Nyala, capital of South Darfur. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Organisation has warned that a shortage of medicine is exacerbating the situation. Dr Saleh Ahmed Ali who works for the IRC in Kalma camp told Radio Dabanga that the spread of these diseases is a result of the deteriorating environmental situation. Especially children are vulnerable, with about 200 visiting the hospital each day. “Cases of diarrhoea, flu, and intestinal pain are the most prevalent,” Dr Saleh said. “In the past we had reasonable quantities of medicine for the camp, but with the increasing number of new arrivals, we have now completely run out. We can only hope to be re-supplied sometime next week.” The Minister of Health for the Darfur Regional Authority, Osman Al Bushra, told Radio Dabanga that the epidemic is spreading due to large numbers of dead livestock at the drinking water resources, especially in Al Sareif Beni Hussein and Jebel ‘Amer in North Darfur.Last October workers at the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine were exposed to diseases such as measles, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pains and typhoid. A medical source explained that lack of latrines and scarcity of drinking water may have been the cause, in addition to overcrowding. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Bushra said that he had not received any reports so far about actual cases or mortality rates, but said “the national Ministry of Health has sent a health team in coordination with the Ministry of Health of North Darfur to address the situation. “They are to carry out environmental sanitation and will bury the dead animals to ensure there will be no contamination of water.” The Minister confirmed that there are no mechanisms to contain epidemic malaria, but said that “there is an early plan in place to get ready for the emergent cases that might occur during the rainy season”. File photo (UNHCR)Related: Harsh conditions killing gold miners (16 October 2012)

The arrival of the rainy season has advanced the spread of diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, urinary retention and conjunctivitis in Kalma camp near to Nyala, capital of South Darfur.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Organisation has warned that a shortage of medicine is exacerbating the situation. Dr Saleh Ahmed Ali who works for the IRC in Kalma camp told Radio Dabanga that the spread of these diseases is a result of the deteriorating environmental situation. Especially children are vulnerable, with about 200 visiting the hospital each day.

“Cases of diarrhoea, flu, and intestinal pain are the most prevalent,” Dr Saleh said. “In the past we had reasonable quantities of medicine for the camp, but with the increasing number of new arrivals, we have now completely run out. We can only hope to be re-supplied sometime next week.”

The Minister of Health for the Darfur Regional Authority, Osman Al Bushra, told Radio Dabanga that the epidemic is spreading due to large numbers of dead livestock at the drinking water resources, especially in Al Sareif Beni Hussein and Jebel ‘Amer in North Darfur.

Last October workers at the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine were exposed to diseases such as measles, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pains and typhoid. A medical source explained that lack of latrines and scarcity of drinking water may have been the cause, in addition to overcrowding.

In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Bushra said that he had not received any reports so far about actual cases or mortality rates, but said “the national Ministry of Health has sent a health team in coordination with the Ministry of Health of North Darfur to address the situation.

“They are to carry out environmental sanitation and will bury the dead animals to ensure there will be no contamination of water.” The Minister confirmed that there are no mechanisms to contain epidemic malaria, but said that “there is an early plan in place to get ready for the emergent cases that might occur during the rainy season”.

File photo (UNHCR)

Related: Harsh conditions killing gold miners (16 October 2012)