Each week, the World Health Organization
Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights
on critical health-related activities
in countries where there are humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various
WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices
and the support provided by WHO regional offices and headquarters. The
mandate of the WHO departments specifically concerned with Emergency and
Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO
contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition and recovery.
This note, which is not exhaustive, is designed for internal use and does
not reflect any official position of the WHO Secretariat.
CHAD & CAMEROON
Assessments and Events
In Cameroon, the influx of Chadian refugees
has almost ceased. At least 30 000 are now in Kousseri, of which about
20 000 are expected to remain. They will be moved to a camp further from
the border, in Maltam. The intense population movements of the past weeks
increase the risk of poliovirus spread into Cameroon.
In Chad, 12 000 new refugees arrived
from West Darfur, in urgent need of aid. They will be accommodated in Mile
and Kounoungou camps.
Two suspected cases of meningitis including
one death have been reported in the eastern town of Bahai, but the alert
threshold has not been reached.
Actions
Twenty humanitarian organizations have
joined the national health authorities and are providing humanitarian aid
in Kousseri.
MOH-Cameroon has made available health
supplies and equipment . WHO provided medical supplies and equipment for
60 000 people (host and refugee population) over three months.
WHO, MSF-France and MSF-Suisse are supporting
local authorities, and WHO will assist in setting up health facilities
in Maltam.
The Organisation de Coordination pour
la Lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale, supported by WHO UNICEF,
UNHCR, IFRC and MSFSuisse, is conducting a mass vaccination against measles
and polio for children from both the refugee and host communities. Each
child will also receive vitamin A.
In Chad, UN agencies and partners are
assessing humanitarian needs in N'Djamena following the heavy fighting
of last week.
Polio immunization activities planned
for 23-26 February are postponed due the ongoing insecurity.
In the East, WHO donated three emergency
health kits to International Medical Corps to assist the new Sudanese refugees.
Another kit was donated to Save the Children. Stocks of health supplies
should last between two and four months.
In 2007, WHO's activities in eastern
Chad were funded by Italy, Finland, ECHO and the CERF. Current emergency
operations between Chad and Cameroun are being funded by the WHO regular
budget. Allocation of funds
from the CERF is being discussed.
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