Dadaab cholera outbreak threatens to spread

NAIROBI [ACTED News] – A growing outbreak of cholera at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya - the world’s largest refugee camp hosting approximately 500,000 refugees - since mid-November is threatening to spread beyond the confines of the camp. Rain and flooding had exacerbated poor sanitation conditions, with refugees resorting to using unsafe water according to UNHCR.

In response to the cholera outbreaks in Dadaab, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is increasing its hygiene and sanitation activities in the camp, setting up treatment centers, and administering oral rehydration salts. ACTED is a leading member of the water and sanitation (WESCOORD) group, which has responsibility for coordinating the humanitarian water and sanitation response in the likely situation that cholera spreads from the camp into additional areas. WESCOORD has developed a cholera response plan and is currently undertaking preparations by disseminating standard response guidelines on activities such as setting up cholera treatment centers, treating water supply, and proper waste management procedures.