Doctors Without Borders battles cholera outbreak

onnaedo

May 25, 2015 3:52 PM

The group launched emergency treatment centres in Tanzania, where thousands of Burundians fleeing unrest have been hit by cholera.

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Medical charity, Doctors Without Borders is currently battling a cholera outbreak which has befallen the Burundi refugee camp in Tanzania.

According to MSN, the group launched emergency treatment centres in Tanzania, where thousands of Burundians fleeing unrest have been hit by cholera.

MSF coordinator, Nanan Kassi N'Zeth described the situation as critical adding that refugees are confronted with the dilemma of remaining in Burundi and face insecurity or seek refuge in Tanzania and risk cholera.

According to the United Nations, some 3,000 cases of cholera have been reported in Tanzania, mainly among Burundian refugees, with up to 400 new cases counted daily and about 31 people reported dead.

So far, MSF had set up cholera treatment centres in refugee camps in Kagunga and Kigoma, receiving as many as 200 patients a day while many refugees are forced to sleep in the open or construct their own makeshift shelters.

Even as the group and its partners are struggling to move refugees from overcrowded Kagunga, to the western province of Kigoma.

Over 100,000 Burundians have led their country since April owing to the political violence in the country sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's 3rd term bid.

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