Refugees face health hazards

Dirty containers and poor hygiene at the Katkama and Kuntaya refugees camps in southwestern Guinea have created possible conditions for the contamination of the limited water supplies there, the World Health Organisation said in a situation report on Monday.

Some 25,000 refugees are camped among the burnt-out ruins at Katkama after fleeing Nyaedou, another camp 15 km north of Guekedou which has been the scene of recent fighting between the army and insurgents. Over 5,000 children under five years of age are at Katkama, which is north of Nyaedou. WHO said health workers in Nyaedou had reported 200 diarrhoea cases last week, before the exodus. These included 50 cases of bloody diarrhoea, which is symptomatic of shigella dysentery. It said drips and rehydration fluids were needed in case of outbreaks in both camps.

WHO said disease surveillance had to be strengthened within the camps and host communities. It added that support was needed for health professionals who try to prevent illness by teaching the population good hygiene practices.

Health workers targeted

Meanwhile, insurgents have been trying to capture and force health workers to join their ranks, WHO said. Some workers such as Frank, a Sierra Leonean nurse, have remained at their posts and vow to do so in Nyaedou until the relocation of refugees is complete. "I don't want to stay here but I do [so] because the people need me," WHO quoted him as saying.