'At least 100 people use one toilet in Dolari camp' - Body decries health conditions in camp

UNICEF has reported that the nutrition and health status of women and children in the Dolari camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP) is very poor.

According to Ms Jean Gough, Country Representative of UNICEF who quoted a report compiled by the group, the Dolari camp had a population as high as 15,000 persons and suffered lack of health facilities, malnutrition and basic education.

UNICEF also conducted a joint WASH assessment to identify needs and gaps in the response to Dolari camp, and found that each person in the camp was only entitled to eight litres of water per day.

In addition, the fund further found out that each toilet in the camp was used by a minimum of 100 persons in a day.

The Country Representative said that 3,600 households in the camp were assessed and a total of 4,737 children, comprising 2,293 boys and 2,444 girls, were evaluated to need basic education.

According to the report, UNICEF had conducted several immediate interventions in the camp to ensure that the displaced persons were provided with a temporary succour saying,

“UNICEF with the State Ministry of Health has screened 2,826 children under five, 164 admitted into therapeutic feeding programme run out of camp clinic with 37 discharged as cured. There was provision of chlorine for the chlorination of water assessed by the estimated 15,000 persons in the camp. There is an ongoing construction of two solar powered water supply systems and latrines with shelter that would benefit the IDPs. UNICEF in partnership with other stakeholders had distributed dignity kits to about 1,800 households in the camp,’’

According to the report, UNICEF had reached 3,752 children with psycho-social support activities which were carried out by 60 trained community volunteers.