Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on the health aspects of selected 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:
Assessments and events:
- Violence and insecurity persist in the east, while important deployments of troops are reported on all sides.
- Unexploded ordnances have wounded 106 people and killed 32 since the beginning of the year; the majority of the victims are children.
- An outbreak of hepatitis E has been reported in three IDPs sites in Goz Beida health district. Increasing numbers of diarrhoeal diseases and hepatitis E cases are an indicator of the deteriorating hygiene and sanitation conditions in the IDP and refugee camps.
Actions:
- Most of the medical kits bought with the Italian funds have been distributed.
- WHO participated in a meeting of the water and sanitation partners to define a response plan against hepatitis E in Goz Beida. On 24 May, a second MoH/WHO mission revealed scarcity of drinking water, insufficient number of latrines and irregular distribution of soap.
- WHO briefed the NGO Merlin on the health situation in the east; Merlin is planning to initiate activities in IDP camps. WHO also met with HCR and Mentor Initiative to discuss malaria control strategies in camps.
- The MoH and WHO organized in Abéché a workshop on the surveillance and detection of measles and yellow fever.
- The IASC Task Team on the Cluster Approach organized workshops in N'Djamena and in Abéché on 22 and 24 May.
- Emergency activities are supported by ECHO, Italy and the CERF. The meeting was hosted by WHO.