Food and health crisis in Sahel
16 April 2012 --The Sahel suffers from chronic malnutrition. With the poor harvest and increasing food insecurity, there are serious concerns of a full-scale disaster this year. There are an estimated 20 million people living in vulnerable areas and 15.6 million of these people are affected by food insecurity. Malnutrition makes people, particularly children under five, weaker and more prone to disease. This crisis is further exacerbated because it is occurring in countries with very fragile health systems and services. WHO is calling for health interventions to urgently be scaled up, mainly in areas not yet covered, to complement on-going nutrition and food interventions. A total of US$ 14.2 million is required by WHO to cover the costs of the response operation over the next twelve months.
Crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic
Since the onset of the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic, WHO has been involved in regular and continuous coordination with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other UN agencies to formulate a comprehensive situation analysis and implement a joint response.
Scaling up of health services in Baidoa, Somalia
From 3-5 March 2012, a WHO-led mission visited Baidoa town, Bay region. After the recent liberation of the area, the Baidoa hospital re-opened and was able to scale up the provision of health services. During the visit, WHO installed an operating theatre in the hospital and provided medical equipment and supplies for direct service delivery for the treatment of injured patients. WHO will organize trainings for doctors and nurses on emergency surgical procedures and comprehensive emergency obstetric care.
The security situation in Jonglei State remains tense in South Sudan
19 February 2012--The security situation in Jonglei State remains tense. The humanitarian needs continue to rise due to the security situation and the resulting population movements. Partners are preparing for a mass influx of up to 500 000 returnees from Sudan. WHO is responding by performing rapid health assessments, participating in technical missions to monitor outbreak response activities, coordinating with MoH and health partners to vaccinate children and deploying technical staff to support the MoH.
