Measles cases among South Sudanese in North Darfur

About 74 suspected measles cases have been reported since early June in Ailliet locality in North Darfur, mainly among South Sudanese refugees, says the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in its latest weekly bulletin.

Almost 93,000 refugees from South Sudan are estimated to have arrived in parts of Sudan since January 2016, fleeing ongoing conflict and heightened food insecurity, of which almost 55,000 are in East Darfur.

According to the Sudanese Cooperation for Development Organisation (CDO), more than 2,600 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Ailliet between 20 and 26 July, bringing the total to an estimated 5,306 refugees in the locality from South Sudan.

The CDO reported that there have been two measles-related deaths in the area. The most recent ten cases were reported between 25 and 31 July. Of the 44 samples sent for laboratory testing, 22 samples tested positive for measles.

In cooperation with the North Darfur Ministry of Health, the CDO started a vaccination campaign targeting all South Sudanese refugees in the affected areas. The host community is covered by the routine vaccination campaign.

Furthermore, the CDO with support from Unicef, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation, and the state Health Ministry, is responding to the needs of the South Sudanese refugees in the locality.

An emergency general food distribution was carried out targeting 2,719 of the refugees who arrived in late June and early July in Dalil Babekir, Dalil Dukri, and Jodat villages. Health and nutrition support has also been provided.