APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) At least 80 cases of measles have been identified among internally displaced people (IDPs) who are sheltered in a temporary immigration camp in Ethiopia’s Debre Berhan city.
The IDPs, who are ethnic Amhara, have resettled in the city for more than a year, fleeing ethnic based attacks from Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in the country’s Oromia regional state.
“The outbreak occurred two weeks ago and the number of cases could be higher as the examination against the disease is intensified,” Bekele Gebre , Head of the Debreberhan city Health Bureau warned Friday in a briefing.
Eyewitnesses told APA that more than 300 children are affected by the disease, noting that there are patients in other camps that are not reported.
“Death has not been reported yet” the head said further noting that more than 10,000 IDPs have been vaccinated against the disease.
Betyie Derbie, coordinator of the camp, which hosts more than 20,000 IDPs, said the measles has remained to be a critical health concern to the IDPs.
“The disease could spread out of the camps if an emergency measure is not taken, ” a health professional told APA on condition of anonymity.
The IDPs told APA that the ‘China Camp” in which they are sheltered does not have adequate toilets, clean water services amid shortage of food supplies and shelter facilities.
At least 30,000 IDPs are sheltered in six temporary camps in Debereberhan city and the camps have become overcrowded as the OLF troops, who are allegedly to have the backing of the central government, continue to carry out ethnic based attacks against ethnic Amhara people.
MG/abj/APA