Acute diarrhoea outbreak among South Darfur displaced

Reports from Kalma camp for displaced persons near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, say that cases of acute diarrhoea are on the increase among residents of the camp. Dr Abdulkarim Abdullah, a physician at one of the camp’s clinics, says that at least 250 people visit the clinics each day complaining of acute diarrhoea. “Another cause for concern is vomiting and malnutrition among the children; all a result of the deteriorating sanitary environment and a lack of medicines,” he lamented. “This is aggravated by the influx of displaced persons and the rainfall at the camp. Antibiotics just can’t treat them anymore.” Dr Abdullah criticised the international organisations and the Ministry of Health for not providing medicines. “The health situation is far worse than it was, for example, in 2003 when the organisations operating in the area managed to supply medicines. However, the current organisations are poorer and incapable of providing drugs.” The doctor appealed to the international community to expedite the provision of medicine to the displaced. The sheikhs of camp El Salam, also in Nyala, have warned of “the spread of a health disaster at the camp” if the authorities do not intervene. Sheikh Mahjoub Adam Tabaldiya explained to Radio Dabanga that “the rainfall has created large puddles of standing water which result in the breeding of flies, mosquitoes and other insects”. He warned that if the authorities do not spray, will lead to the spread of diseases. “Many displaced people are now suffering from diarrhoea and malaria,” he said, appealing to the health authorities to intervene by spraying the water pools and providing treatment for the patients. File photo (UN OCHA) Related: Children, pregnant women die of disease at Kalma camp, South Darfur (30 June 2013) Torrential rains cause death, disease in South Darfur (7 June 2013) Disease kills children, causes miscarriages in camps near Nyala, South Darfur (22 May 2013)