Highlights
◊ Since the onset of the conflict on 15 December 2013, UNOCHA estimates that 395,000 people have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, 352, 000 of these displaced internally. 84,000 others are displaced in Mingkaman and Awerial in Lakes state. Displaced persons have also been reported in neighboring states and countries like Uganda where 32,000 are seeking refuge, 4,800 in Kenya and 6,000 displaced into Ethiopia.
◊ A total of 2,633 persons have been wounded across all the conflict-affected states, 176 of them have been medically evacuated to various hospitals since the start of the conflict.
◊ Emergency campaigns have been launched following reported suspected cases of measles in internally displaced people's camps in Juba and Bentiu. Vaccination campaigns for measles and polio have been launched in all IDP camps. Vit A and deworming were also included in the vaccination campaigns. Blood specimen for suspected cases of measles were collected from Juba and Bentiu and with the facilitation of WHO, these were sent to Nairobi for further analysis.
◊ The main causes of morbidity seen at the primary health care clinics in the IDP camps in Juba, Awerial, Malakal and Bentiu are Malaria (21%), Acute Watery Diarrhea (18%), and Acute Respiratory Infection (20%). There have been no deaths due to diarrhea or malaria. A estimated 11,500 patients have been treated in the last two weeks in clinics offering services in displaced peoples’ camps.
◊ WHO and UNFPA are working to support reproductive health services in IDP camps in Juba and Bentiu, this however remains a major gap in other IDP camps in the five states of Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei, Central Equatoria, Lakes and Warrap. While IMC has started offering reproductive health services in UN Juba III IDP camp and In UNMISS Tomping camp.
◊ The fighting that first occurred in Juba Central Equatoria State on the 15 December 2013 has continued in parts of Bor in Jonglei and Mayom and Bentiu in Unity States. While in Juba, although the situation is calm, sporadic shooting has continued in parts of the city especially at night time. As a result of continued fighting, the number of people fleeing in to areas of safety has continued to rise. UNOCHA reports that as of 10 January 2014, an estimated 395,000 persons had been displaced as compared to 194,000 reported in the last health cluster bulletin. With the increasing numbers of displaced persons, emergency health needs have equally become enormous thus a need for more humanitarian partners to respond and more medical supplies to ensure that all displaced persons and those wounded are reached.
◊ As the fighting continues, the number of casualties is also increasing. Within a period of one week from the last release of the cluster bulletin, 406 cases of gunshot wounds have been reported and treated at 17 treatment centers managing casualties across the country with numbers expected to rise further as fighting continues.
◊ An estimated 2,633 gunshot wounds have been treated and managed at all health facilities across five states of South Sudan with many more expected to be wounded and not able to access the hospitals for surgical care. Of those injured, 176 have been medically evacuated to Juba for further treatment. Between 2 and 10 January 2014, 109 new cases of gunshot wounds have been evacuated as compared to fifty seven evacuations conducted by 2 January 2014. Those evacuated have been receiving medical care in UNMISS hospitals in Bor, Malakal, Bentiu and Juba and in government and NGO health facilities in Renk, Mayom, Bentiu, Malakal, Agok, Leer, Kuajok, Gogrial, Juba Military hospital and Juba Teaching Hospital located in the six states of South Sudan.
◊ UNMISS hospitals together with ICRC and MSF with support from the WHO are the major actors in managing trauma cases across the conflict zones and neighboring states where wounded patients are referred. UNMISS clinics in Juba and Bor are however full and there is need to support the relocation of some patients to other, safer health facilities where they can continue to receive specialized care.
◊ The delivery of humanitarian medical assistance however continues to be greatly hampered, especially in Bor due to the high insecurity as the hospital in Bor is currently non-functional. Some agencies have therefore set up bases within the UNMISS compounds in Juba, Malakal and Bentiu while others stayed at the hospitals in Bentiu and Malakal. Although many agencies have started returning, not many are on ground to provide the much needed services. This however is expected to change in the next coming weeks.