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:
The number of cases of hepatitis E in the eastern IDP sites continues to increase. Between week 24 and week 25, the weekly number of new cases rose from 59 to 61 in Koloma and from 10 to 19 in Gouroukou. Since 1 January, 718 cases, including nine deaths, have been notified in the eight districts covered by EWARS. The imminent rainy season will magnify the risk of oro-faecal diseases outbreaks such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid.
Insecurity and attacks against relief agencies' assets continue to hamper humanitarian efforts in the east. The deployment of a French-European force to secure the areas around refugee camps and IDP sites is under discussion.
The strike, which includes government-run hospitals and clinics, continues.
Actions:
WHO and the MoH have revised the response plan to the hepatitis E outbreak, highlighting the reinforcement of sanitation practices and education, and ensuring access to clean water and the continuation of surveillance and support activities.
A joint mission of UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO and MSF was conducted from 19 to 22 June in Goz Beida. It showed that although priority health and nutrition activities are in place in all the IDP sites, lack of food and safe drinking water is causing a degradation of the nutritional situation and an augmentation of the number of cases of hepatitis E.
A joint AFRO/HQ mission to Abéché is ongoing to coordinate the response against hepatitis E with partners and assess the installation of a WHO antenna in Goz Beida.
WHO conducted a training on outbreak related laboratory activities in Abéché, and a training on early warning systems in Goz Beida.
WHO provided two basic health kits, donations of the Italian Government, to two health centres in Goz Beida district.
WHO continues coordinating health activities with partners on the ground.
Emergency activities are supported by ECHO, Italy and the CERF.