WHO ARE YOU | WHO leads humanitarian response to escalation of violence in Sudan’s Blue Nile State | News
The WHO team conducted interviews with IDPs to assess needs and gaps at IDP Alqasam Camp, Damazine Locality, Blue Nile State, Sudan. November 6, 2022. Credit: WHODecember 20, 2022 – The recent wave of conflict between two rival factions in Sudan’s Blue Nile State – Hausa and Fonj-Hamaj – is said to have left 300 people dead and 236 injured since October 13, 2022. Along with limited access to medical facilities, this precarious situation has also resulted in the cessation of farming, trade and daily activities, as well as the displacement of 71,406 individuals from their homes to adjoining shelters for internally displaced people (IDPs). WHO is one of the first responders to the health emergency caused by escalating violence.
Along with the handover of trauma and emergency surgery kits to the State Ministry of Health for 300 major interventions and an interdisciplinary emergency medical kit to meet the basic health needs of 30,000 IDPs in 3 months, WHO also deployed a team of emergency medical experts to the main Damazine hospital, which receives a high daily burden of injury.
Since October 2022, WHO has also supported the running costs of four mobile clinics in several towns in the state – particularly in the Wd Elmahi and Gaisan localities – as well as organized training on management. mass casualty management for the medical staff of Damazine Hospital.
“A team from the WHO Emergency Response Program was deployed to assess the more populous IDP camps (Alqasam and Abo Alfayd in Damazine; Omer Al Mokhtar, Nusaiba Bint Kaab and Hanim Rizq in Rosairis), identifying the critical vulnerabilities and provide technical assistance to the State Department of Health and the IDP with the necessary interventions. Dr Ni’ma Saeed Abid, WHO Representative in Sudan, said that the Organization also led the Health Team in the daily meetings of the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an effective response.
Although food is guaranteed through the World Food Program – who have donated seeds, grains, sugar, wheat and oil to most of the camps – drugs, vaccines and medical supplies has been guaranteed by WHO for the next 3 months.
In addition to maintaining active surveillance for potentially explosive diseases, WHO is developing a plan to support water and sanitation activities in IDP focus areas. Other needs of IDP camps include protection and security, as individuals from both ethnicities reside unprotected and have no physical barriers to protect from attack. As no learning activity was observed in any of the camps, children’s school attendance was also a high priority need. Other pressing needs include increasing the number of toilets and latrines, improving sanitation, and raising public awareness. Although water is guaranteed at all camps, most through an unattended city network, the Omer Al Mokhtar camp requires chlorination and monitoring as the camp’s water source is a refilled cistern. daily.
WHO and UN partner agencies, along with national and international NGOs, are working closely with partner state ministries to ensure improved living conditions for IDPs and start promote peace agreements in the region.
