Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on critical health-related activities in countries where there are 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 operational use and does not reflect any official position of the WHO Secretariat.
INDONESIA
Assessments and Events
- On 27 March, heavy torrential rains caused the Situ Gintung dam to burst in Tangerang district, Banten Province, south-west of Jakarta. At least 50 people have died and hundreds are injured. More than 400 homes have been inundated.
- Rescue operations are ongoing.
Actions
- The MoH, provincial and district health authorities are collaborating with the WHO Country Office:
- to deploy rapid assessment teams;
- to refer injured people to district hospitals and evacuate victims;
- to establish a health post and activate mobile clinics to provide health care.
- WHO is in close communication with the MoH and the district and provincial health authorities to monitor the situation through the crisis centre.
SUDAN
Assessments and Events
- The loss of expertise following the expulsion or closure of 16 aid agencies cannot be replaced in the short run and exacerbated the plight of displaced people in Darfur, the UN warned.
- An assessment conducted on 11-19 March in all three Darfur states by UN and Government officials show that 4.7 million people are affected by gaps in food, health, non-food items and shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Health care is also expected to face severe shortages soon. Some 650 000 people have no access to full health services.
Actions
- WHO and health partners are working to ensure sufficient capacity to respond to the meningitis outbreak in Kalma camp. There are enough supplies to vaccinate 88 000 people in the camp and WHO is coordinating a mass vaccination campaign with the State MoH, the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner and NGOs.
- The expulsion of NGOs from Darfur has no immediate effect on humanitarian operations in Southern Sudan. But some NGO operations in Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan are reportedly affected.
- WHO's activities in Sudan are funded by the CERF, the Common Humanitarian Fund, ECHO, the ERF, Finland, Ireland and Italy.
ZIMBABWE
Assessments and Events
- By 27 March, 93 482 cholera cases and 4095 deaths (CFR 4.4%) have been reported countrywide. Community deaths continue to account for 61.6% of all reported deaths.
- Preliminary results from an ongoing analysis of the outbreak indicate that the outbreak is slowing down. Some areas remain hotspots especially Chitungwiza - the initial focus of the outbreak in August 2008 - and Harare city, which are affected by water shortages and poor waste disposal systems.
Actions
- WHO is coordinating the Cholera Coordination and Command Centre activities. Together with Health Cluster partners, WHO is promoting information dissemination, education and communication, social mobilization and health promotion activities, supporting epidemiological surveillance, case management and the provision of cholera supplies as well as strengthening the national logistics system and epidemic preparedness and response.
- WHO and Health Cluster partners conduct a risk analysis mission to Chitungwiza and Harare to evaluate the outbreak and the response. Another team from the Cholera Command Control Centre is investigating an upsurge in cases in Kadoma district, Mashonaland west province.