Measles affects Somali refugees

The UN says an outbreak of measles has killed hundreds of malnurished Somali children in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. At least ten children under the age of five are reportedly dying each day at the Kobe camp, where at least 25 thousand Somalis have sought shelter and aid. Tens of thousands of people have left Somalia as the famine spreads and relief agencies struggle to provide assistance.
Spokesman Adrian Edwards says the UN refugee agency is trying to control the measles outbreak.
“UNHCR and our partners are working to respond to the emergency and control the outbreak,” he said. “A mass vaccination campaign against measles was completed in Kobe camp yesterday, targeting all children between the ages of six months and 15 years. It will continue in the other camps in the coming days. Most of the refugees arriving from Somalia are from rural areas, and the camps in Ethiopia may be in many instances the first time people have had contact with formal health facilities. A key priority for all partners working in the camps is to promote awareness of the health and nutrition programmes available for refugees, many of whom have not been accessing these services.”
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has tried to downplay the scale of the recently-revealed theft of food supplies in Somalia, insisting only about 1 percent of donations have gone missing, and encouraging the international community to continue its contributions.
Listen: