7 May 2014 - To prevent a breakout of cholera among displaced people at the UNMISS base in the Upper Nile State capital Malakal, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) today started a second round of cholera vaccinations.

The oral vaccination is targeting 2100 people, following the first round in April which reached a total number of 16,500 people in two phases, as part of several preventive measures.

“We have also set up a new cholera treatment centre (to be able to deal) with any disease outbreak,” said MSF Emergency Coordinator Albert Vinas.

Dr. Ngino Alejok said his facility was already treating between 40 and 50 cases of water-borne diseases daily, caused by poor hygiene in the protection site.

“The situation may get worst because of (coming) rains,” said Abdel Gader Abaker, one of more than 18,000 people seeking shelter at the base. “We urge UNMISS and humanitarians to speed up our location to the new site.”

The UNMISS State Coordinator said work was ongoing on a new site to which displaced persons would be relocated to reduce congestion and spread of disease during the rainy season.

“We are working against the clock and the rain to move them out quickly as possible,” she said. “We will identify those displaced people in the most vulnerable areas to move them first.”