Unamid provides health care to East Darfur displaced
Thousands of displaced people have been receiving protection and health care from Unamid since April 2013, when fighting between Sudan Armed Forces troops and the Sudan Liberation Army, led by Minni Minawi, forced them to flee their homes in Labado, East Darfur. Approximately 29,000 people from Labado and surrounding villages were displaced to various camps in South, North, and East Darfur. A few thousand of them have taken refuge in the vicinity of Unamid’s Team Site there. Labado’s main market, nine schools and the health care facility were all looted and destroyed during the clashes. Unamid’s clinic remains the only medical centre providing assistance to the displaced ever since. About 200 patients per week, the majority women and children, visit the Mission’s clinic, run by Nigerian peacekeepers. The most common cases being treated are malaria, typhoid, cold, flu, wounds, diarrhoea, malnutrition and eye infections. The medical team has also assisted in delivering babies and supporting pregnant women experiencing prenatal difficulties. “Within our limited capacity and resources, we are doing everything we can to support the community and save lives. We have called on the humanitarian agencies to urgently provide the necessary support particularly medicines for children and pregnant women,” said Lt Matthew Gowon, Unamid physician in Labado. The Mission has also facilitated the transportation of educational materials, including mats and exercise books, supplied by Unicef for the only primary school which recently reopened with 945 students. The school lacks desks, chairs, text books and other educational materials. The Ministry of Education has provided some teachers and more are expected to be deployed soon. Unamid has reinforced its security patrols in the area and is conducting regular escort patrols for the displaced, particularly women, who tend to venture out in search of water and firewood. File photo: A Unamid doctor from Nigeria inspects with a digital photo-camera a child’s teeth at the Unamid base in Labado (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Unamid ‘urgently’ requires health intervention in East Darfur (26 October 2013)
Thousands of displaced people have been receiving protection and health care from Unamid since April 2013, when fighting between Sudan Armed Forces troops and the Sudan Liberation Army, led by Minni Minawi, forced them to flee their homes in Labado, East Darfur.
Approximately 29,000 people from Labado and surrounding villages were displaced to various camps in South, North, and East Darfur. A few thousand of them have taken refuge in the vicinity of Unamid’s Team Site there. Labado’s main market, nine schools and the health care facility were all looted and destroyed during the clashes.
Unamid’s clinic remains the only medical centre providing assistance to the displaced ever since. About 200 patients per week, the majority women and children, visit the Mission’s clinic, run by Nigerian peacekeepers.
The most common cases being treated are malaria, typhoid, cold, flu, wounds, diarrhoea, malnutrition and eye infections. The medical team has also assisted in delivering babies and supporting pregnant women experiencing prenatal difficulties. “Within our limited capacity and resources, we are doing everything we can to support the community and save lives. We have called on the humanitarian agencies to urgently provide the necessary support particularly medicines for children and pregnant women,” said Lt Matthew Gowon, Unamid physician in Labado.
The Mission has also facilitated the transportation of educational materials, including mats and exercise books, supplied by Unicef for the only primary school which recently reopened with 945 students. The school lacks desks, chairs, text books and other educational materials. The Ministry of Education has provided some teachers and more are expected to be deployed soon.
Unamid has reinforced its security patrols in the area and is conducting regular escort patrols for the displaced, particularly women, who tend to venture out in search of water and firewood.
File photo: A Unamid doctor from Nigeria inspects with a digital photo-camera a child’s teeth at the Unamid base in Labado (Albert González Farran/Unamid)
Related: Unamid ‘urgently’ requires health intervention in East Darfur (26 October 2013)
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