Sudan: WHO Health update for Darfur, Sudan and Chad

The main health concerns facing displaced people in Darfur and their host communities include: malnutrition, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, hepatitis E and conflict-related trauma. The possibility of outbreaks of communicable diseases is particularly elevated. This is due to risk factors including limited amounts of potable water, low standards of environmental hygiene, declining nutritional status, and low vaccination coverage. Twelve communicable diseases and health events are being monitored by the Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) established by WHO, and implemented by a network of health care groups throughout the three Darfur States.