UN sees looming health crisis from South Asia floods
source: Daily Times.com.pk
* Rain, blocked roads hinder relief efforts g Canada offers emergency aid relief
GENEVA: Millions of people could fall ill with malaria, dengue fever and other diseases if emergency aid does not reach those stranded by floodwaters in South Asia within days, the United Nations warned on Tuesday.
The UN Children’s Fund UNICEF said stagnant waters left behind after intense monsoons in India, Bangladesh and Nepal were “a lethal breeding ground” for diarrhoeal and water-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. “Entire villages are days away from a health crisis if people are not reached in the coming days,” UNICEF’s health chief for India, Marzio Babille, said in a statement.
World Health Organisation (WHO) spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said acute respiratory and skin infections, food-borne ailments and snake bites were also threatening the 30 million people affected by flash flooding in the region. Many people in affected areas are relying on dirty surface water for their basic needs, with water sources contaminated or still submerged in the wake of the floods.
“The main problem is access to clean water and sanitation,” Chaib told a news briefing, noting that UN agencies, other aid groups and governments were working to ensure water, rehydration salts and other medical supplies reached those in need. Many remote communities and villages are only accessible by boat or through air drops, and security concerns in some areas has further hindered efforts to deliver humanitarian aid, UNICEF spokeswoman Veronique Taveau said.
More rain and blocked roads have delayed efforts to help 300,000 people in southern Nepal hit by major flooding, amid fears of a rise in water-borne illnesses, officials said Tuesday. “We are concerned about water-borne diseases like diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid,” Arjun Bahadur Singh, Nepal’s health ministry spokesman, told AFP.
“There is no shortage of medicine. However, accessibility is a problem: highways are blocked, there is no transportation and it is very hard for our medical response teams to get to some of the worst affected areas,” he said.
Flooding eased in most parts of Bangladesh on Tuesday with major improvements expected over the coming days, the head of country’s flood centre said, but the death toll rose to 290. “All the major rivers are receding fast. Except in the eastern part of the capital, we will now see some dramatic improvement from later today (Tuesday),” said Saiful Hossain, the head of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.
The flood centre monitors the water level of all the major rivers in Bangladesh and India. However, at least eight more deaths were reported Tuesday, mostly children who drowned in swirling waters, taking the death toll from the last two weeks’ floods to 164, government spokesman Golam Kibria said.
Canada offers aid relief:Canada pledged one million dollars (950,000 US dollars) in emergency aid relief Monday for victims of devastating floods that have hit India, Bangladesh and Nepal. “Canada is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and by the destruction that has occurred over the past few weeks in Bangladesh, India and Nepal,” Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement. “Canada stands with these countries as they carry out their relief efforts,’ he said. agencies
Showing posts with label Water borne disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Water borne disease. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Floods leave many in dire straits
Floods leave many in dire straits
POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, July 31 - Weeklong inundation across several districts has wreaked havoc, with hundreds of displaced locals facing looming epidemic and starvation amid the ravaged infrastructure.
Reports from Sarlahi said locals are suffering from diarrhea and fever. A team of Red Cross Society that managed to reach Khairwa VDC on Monday, distributed medicines and relief to flood and disease affected victims.
Flood victims in Bardiya and Banke districts are starving as transportation to many villages remains disrupted. According to local administration, transportation difficulties have left Nepalgunj without any food supply.
Similarly, locals of 11 VDCs in Rajapur Tappu of Bardiya are starving. Although locals in the area are using steamers to cross the Karnali river, the situation in the villages is worse as roadways to nearby cities remain damaged. Mean-while, a large number of locals from Mahammadpur, Suryagaudi and Taduwa are sheltering in makeshift tents along the Gulariya-Nepalgunj road section.
Almost 2,000 locals of Nepalgunj are sheltering in dharmashalas, educational institutes, government offices and hospitals since the last week. Flood victims have been complaining that the local administration is being 'partial' in relief distribution.
Likewise, locals in Ilam are also suffering due to lack of commodities as the rainfall has damaged the 15-kilometer-long Damak-Ravi Falgu-nand roadway. According to locals, Luvde, Sakfara, Fuyetappa and Aamchowk VDCs in Ilam and Rabi, Kurumba and Lumba VDCs among others in Panchthar districts are worst-hit due to food scarcity.
Our Biratnagar correspondent said that locals of Niguradin VDC-7 in Taplejung district have been staying at their neighbors' homes after landslide damaged their houses. Similarly, landslides also displaced three houses in Aankhivui VDC of Sankhuwasabha district, Monday night.
In Sunsari, flood victims on Tuesday criticized local bodies for distributing 'inadequate' relief materials. However, Chief District Officer Prem Narayan Sharma said the administration has already distributed over 16 quintals of ration to 2,000 displaced locals of Basantapur and Narsingh VDCs. The administration also provided relief to over 700 flood victims of Inaruwa municipality who had launched agitation demanding relief.
In Parsa, Red Cross Society in the district said nearly 330 houses have been displaced so far. According to the Red Cross team's report - Dhobini, Langadi, Jhauwa Guthi, Bindabasini, Mad-hwal, Shrisiya, Prasauni-birta and Prasaunibhatha VDCs, including ward no 15 and 16 of Birgunj municipality were waterlogged till Tuesday. The team also provided relief materials to victims.
In Sarlahi, locals of Sakarpura VDC have started repairing the Bhim barrage on Khado River after two weeks of rainfall ceased on Tuesday. Earlier, nearly 2,500 households in Sakarpura, Rampura Malhaniya, Launiya and Tilathi VDCs were displaced after the river wrecked the barrage.
2 more killed in Mahottari
MAHOTTARI, July 31 (PR) - Although the impact of rainfall is diminishing in other districts, inundation in Mahottari claimed two more lives on Monday. According to police, Lalita Devi Yadav, 25, of Chakwa in Halkhori VDC-8 died after being drowned in the Jangaha River on Monday. Similarly, Taslim Miya, 40, of Sarpallo VDC-8 was drowned in Akushi River the same day. With this, the total flood casualty in Mahottari has reached seven. Meanwhile, five members of a family in Gonarpura VDC-5 of the district were injured when their house collapsed. Seventy-five-year-old Bartu Devi was seriously injured. The injured are receiving treatment at a local health post, police said.
Posted on: 2007-07-31 20:18:46 (Server Time)
POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, July 31 - Weeklong inundation across several districts has wreaked havoc, with hundreds of displaced locals facing looming epidemic and starvation amid the ravaged infrastructure.
Reports from Sarlahi said locals are suffering from diarrhea and fever. A team of Red Cross Society that managed to reach Khairwa VDC on Monday, distributed medicines and relief to flood and disease affected victims.
Flood victims in Bardiya and Banke districts are starving as transportation to many villages remains disrupted. According to local administration, transportation difficulties have left Nepalgunj without any food supply.
Similarly, locals of 11 VDCs in Rajapur Tappu of Bardiya are starving. Although locals in the area are using steamers to cross the Karnali river, the situation in the villages is worse as roadways to nearby cities remain damaged. Mean-while, a large number of locals from Mahammadpur, Suryagaudi and Taduwa are sheltering in makeshift tents along the Gulariya-Nepalgunj road section.
Almost 2,000 locals of Nepalgunj are sheltering in dharmashalas, educational institutes, government offices and hospitals since the last week. Flood victims have been complaining that the local administration is being 'partial' in relief distribution.
Likewise, locals in Ilam are also suffering due to lack of commodities as the rainfall has damaged the 15-kilometer-long Damak-Ravi Falgu-nand roadway. According to locals, Luvde, Sakfara, Fuyetappa and Aamchowk VDCs in Ilam and Rabi, Kurumba and Lumba VDCs among others in Panchthar districts are worst-hit due to food scarcity.
Our Biratnagar correspondent said that locals of Niguradin VDC-7 in Taplejung district have been staying at their neighbors' homes after landslide damaged their houses. Similarly, landslides also displaced three houses in Aankhivui VDC of Sankhuwasabha district, Monday night.
In Sunsari, flood victims on Tuesday criticized local bodies for distributing 'inadequate' relief materials. However, Chief District Officer Prem Narayan Sharma said the administration has already distributed over 16 quintals of ration to 2,000 displaced locals of Basantapur and Narsingh VDCs. The administration also provided relief to over 700 flood victims of Inaruwa municipality who had launched agitation demanding relief.
In Parsa, Red Cross Society in the district said nearly 330 houses have been displaced so far. According to the Red Cross team's report - Dhobini, Langadi, Jhauwa Guthi, Bindabasini, Mad-hwal, Shrisiya, Prasauni-birta and Prasaunibhatha VDCs, including ward no 15 and 16 of Birgunj municipality were waterlogged till Tuesday. The team also provided relief materials to victims.
In Sarlahi, locals of Sakarpura VDC have started repairing the Bhim barrage on Khado River after two weeks of rainfall ceased on Tuesday. Earlier, nearly 2,500 households in Sakarpura, Rampura Malhaniya, Launiya and Tilathi VDCs were displaced after the river wrecked the barrage.
2 more killed in Mahottari
MAHOTTARI, July 31 (PR) - Although the impact of rainfall is diminishing in other districts, inundation in Mahottari claimed two more lives on Monday. According to police, Lalita Devi Yadav, 25, of Chakwa in Halkhori VDC-8 died after being drowned in the Jangaha River on Monday. Similarly, Taslim Miya, 40, of Sarpallo VDC-8 was drowned in Akushi River the same day. With this, the total flood casualty in Mahottari has reached seven. Meanwhile, five members of a family in Gonarpura VDC-5 of the district were injured when their house collapsed. Seventy-five-year-old Bartu Devi was seriously injured. The injured are receiving treatment at a local health post, police said.
Posted on: 2007-07-31 20:18:46 (Server Time)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
700 Maoist combatants of Shaktikhor camp fall ill
700 Maoist combatants of Shaktikhor camp fall ill
Some 700 Maoist fighters at the Shaktikhor cantonment in Chitwan district have fallen sick.
According to 'Binod', the health chief of the camp, most of the combatants of the camp are suffering from viral infection since a week due to contaminated drinking water and are running high fever. Some of them have also been afflicted from typhoid, jaundice and other skin diseases. Their condition has become critical due to lack of medical treatment.
Binod said some 700 have already been afflicted with one or the other disease and the number is growing with each passing day. "The combatants are receiving primary treatment at the 10-bed hospital in the main cantonment. But they are not getting sufficient rest due to lack of proper management in their camps," Binod said.
He said the camps haven't yet received all the medicine supplies even though the District Health chief has already been informed about the problem.
The Maoist combatants have fallen sick after drinking water from the river which has become contaminated due to floods in recent days. The camp lacks proper management of drinking water. nepalnews.com ag July 30 07
Some 700 Maoist fighters at the Shaktikhor cantonment in Chitwan district have fallen sick.
According to 'Binod', the health chief of the camp, most of the combatants of the camp are suffering from viral infection since a week due to contaminated drinking water and are running high fever. Some of them have also been afflicted from typhoid, jaundice and other skin diseases. Their condition has become critical due to lack of medical treatment.
Binod said some 700 have already been afflicted with one or the other disease and the number is growing with each passing day. "The combatants are receiving primary treatment at the 10-bed hospital in the main cantonment. But they are not getting sufficient rest due to lack of proper management in their camps," Binod said.
He said the camps haven't yet received all the medicine supplies even though the District Health chief has already been informed about the problem.
The Maoist combatants have fallen sick after drinking water from the river which has become contaminated due to floods in recent days. The camp lacks proper management of drinking water. nepalnews.com ag July 30 07
12 succumb to diarrhoea in Salyan
12 succumb to diarrhoea in Salyan
At least 12 villagers, mostly children, have died in an outbreak of diarrhoea in two VDCs of Salyan district since Thursday.
The deaths were reported in Ward no. 6, 4 and 2 of Kalagaon VDC and Ward no. 4 of Marmaparikanda VDC.
Several others have been suffering from diarrhoea caused by polluted drinking water. Lack of toilets in the villages is causing fast spread of the disease, reports say.
Following complaints of lack of medicines in local health posts, the District Public Health Office has sent a team of health workers to the affected areas with medicines. nepalnews.com mk July 29 07
12 die in Salyan
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, July 29 - At least 12 people have been confirmed dead in the last three days due to an outbreak of diarrhea in Marmaparikanda and Kalagaon in Salyan.
In the epidemic of diarrhea, 4 people of Kauchegaon in Kalagaon-6, 2 people of Jharkanda and 2 people of Bahundanda have lost their lives. And 4 children have died in the Marmaparikanda VDC.
It has been suspected that the deceased died due to lack of medical treatment.
Meanwhile, at least, additional more than two dozen people have been infected.
Sources said that the local health post was in short supply of medicines and the health workers have been staying in leave.
Salyan District Office chief Dr Khageshwar Gelan informed that a team of health workers with medicines have been deployed in the affected region after learning about the incident last evening.
Posted on: 2007-07-29 01:37:14 (Server Time)
At least 12 villagers, mostly children, have died in an outbreak of diarrhoea in two VDCs of Salyan district since Thursday.
The deaths were reported in Ward no. 6, 4 and 2 of Kalagaon VDC and Ward no. 4 of Marmaparikanda VDC.
Several others have been suffering from diarrhoea caused by polluted drinking water. Lack of toilets in the villages is causing fast spread of the disease, reports say.
Following complaints of lack of medicines in local health posts, the District Public Health Office has sent a team of health workers to the affected areas with medicines. nepalnews.com mk July 29 07
12 die in Salyan
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, July 29 - At least 12 people have been confirmed dead in the last three days due to an outbreak of diarrhea in Marmaparikanda and Kalagaon in Salyan.
In the epidemic of diarrhea, 4 people of Kauchegaon in Kalagaon-6, 2 people of Jharkanda and 2 people of Bahundanda have lost their lives. And 4 children have died in the Marmaparikanda VDC.
It has been suspected that the deceased died due to lack of medical treatment.
Meanwhile, at least, additional more than two dozen people have been infected.
Sources said that the local health post was in short supply of medicines and the health workers have been staying in leave.
Salyan District Office chief Dr Khageshwar Gelan informed that a team of health workers with medicines have been deployed in the affected region after learning about the incident last evening.
Posted on: 2007-07-29 01:37:14 (Server Time)
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