Story: DRC: Update on health situation - WHO
DURATION (TRT): 2’31"
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16/9
DATELINE: 22 September 2023, GENEVA SWITZERLAND
FORMAT: HYBRID PRESS BRIEFING
SHOTLIST
STORYLINE
Eastern DR Congo is epicentre of humanitarian crisis, says WHO
Increasing violence from armed conflict and intercommunal clashes which have left entire villages burned to the ground in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) along with rampant sexual violence and a cholera outbreak are devastating the lives of millions of people, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
“The country is battling an epicenter of the humanitarian crisis over the past two decades, the eastern side of the country is severely affected due to the intensity of the conflict and the increasing humanitarian needs,” reported Dr. Boureima Hama Sambo, WHO’s representative in the DRC.
According to the WHO, a total of 7.4 million people in the DRC need health assistance and conditions are worsening. Some 6.3 million have been displaced in the last 18 months in the eastern part of the country and they are more at risk of disease outbreak and acute malnutrition as they have limited or no access to food, safe water and health care.
The UN health agency has verified 32 attacks on health facilities and workers in 2022, (causing three deaths and injuring seven) compared to 19 attacks so far in 2023. Health facilities have been set on fire, health workers killed and supplies looted. The ongoing violence is also hindering the delivery of health services on the ground at a time when needs are critical.
“DRC is facing its worst cholera outbreak since 2017”, said Dr. Hama Sambo. “The eastern provinces are the most affected ones, accounting for 80 per cent of the cases. We have close to 30,000 suspected cases of cholera reported. The country is also battling the largest outbreak of measles recorded since 2019.”
This number compares to only slightly over 5,000 last year for the same period.
WHO has deployed experts to affected areas to support the authorities in investigating and responding to these outbreaks.
“The combination of measles and malnutrition has severe health impacts on children under five years of age, putting them at risk of dying with lack of access to adequate treatments,” said the WHO representative.
The WHO has also provided increasing support to the victims of gender-based violence, including access to mental health and psychosocial support, medical care and post-exposure prophylaxis.
“Around 23,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported in the six provinces from January to August 2023. These numbers are probably much higher considering the low reporting by the victims and the weakness of health services to capture this data in a more exhaustive way,” noted Dr. Hama Sambo.
The UN health organization recently completed a vaccination campaign in Ituri province reaching over one million of children under five with a coverage of 88 per cent. More vaccination campaigns will follow in other provinces.
The WHO’s representative underscored that DRC “must not be forgotten. We need more support of our donors and partners to continue delivering these much-needed health services to the people of DRC.”
The WHO’s response plan of $31 million is only 14 per cent funded ($4,3 million).
-ends-
Story: DRC: Update on health situation - WHO
DURATION (TRT): 2’31"
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16/9
DATELINE: 22 September 2023, GENEVA SWITZERLAND
FORMAT: HYBRID PRESS BRIEFING
SHOTLIST
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO
Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians
Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.
1
1
1
Edited News
Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC
Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital
UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.
2
1
2
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.
The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF
Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire
UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , UNICEF
Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur
Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.
2
1
2
Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN
Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNITED NATIONS
United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.