End northern crisis, say French doctors
Nov 08, 2004
<b>NAIROBI, Monday, (IRIN) </b>— The medical aid agency, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), on Monday urged the international community to end the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda.
NAIROBI, Monday, (IRIN) — The medical aid agency, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), on Monday urged the international community to end the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda.
An MSF statement said poor living conditions in the north had led to high child mortality rates.
Surveys conducted by MSF in six displaced persons’ camps in Lira and Pader districts in October showed a crude mortality rate of 2.8 deaths per 10,000 people per day for the general population.
According to internationally agreed bench marks, a rate of over two per 10,000 people per day is classified as an ‘emergency out of control’, the statement said.
The mortality rate was more alarming among children under five years of age at 5.4 deaths per 10,000 children a day, with the rate at 10.5 deaths per 10,000 children a day in one location, MSF said.
“The extent of suffering is overwhelming and the situation remains critical,†said Monica de Castellarnau, MSF’s head of mission in Uganda.
She said the people also lacked basic resources, food, health care and safe water. “Our findings show a situation that is beyond an acute emergency. We are doing what we can, but more assistance is needed immediately,†she said.
MSF said a mental health survey in Pader showed that all respondents had been exposed to severe traumatic events since 2002.
It said 63% reported disappearance or abduction of a family member, 58% experienced the death of a family member due to the insurgency, 79% witnessed torture and 40% witnessed at least one killing.
MSF said five percent of the population had been forced to physically harm somebody.
“In its clinic in Pader, MSF has treated several patients for the consequences of failed suicide attempts,†MSF said.
The survey also said 62% of the women interviewed thought about committing suicide.
Violence, perpetrated mainly by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in the last 18 years, has displaced about 1.6 million people. The rebel group has been accused of abducting 20,000 children.
An MSF statement said poor living conditions in the north had led to high child mortality rates.
Surveys conducted by MSF in six displaced persons’ camps in Lira and Pader districts in October showed a crude mortality rate of 2.8 deaths per 10,000 people per day for the general population.
According to internationally agreed bench marks, a rate of over two per 10,000 people per day is classified as an ‘emergency out of control’, the statement said.
The mortality rate was more alarming among children under five years of age at 5.4 deaths per 10,000 children a day, with the rate at 10.5 deaths per 10,000 children a day in one location, MSF said.
“The extent of suffering is overwhelming and the situation remains critical,†said Monica de Castellarnau, MSF’s head of mission in Uganda.
She said the people also lacked basic resources, food, health care and safe water. “Our findings show a situation that is beyond an acute emergency. We are doing what we can, but more assistance is needed immediately,†she said.
MSF said a mental health survey in Pader showed that all respondents had been exposed to severe traumatic events since 2002.
It said 63% reported disappearance or abduction of a family member, 58% experienced the death of a family member due to the insurgency, 79% witnessed torture and 40% witnessed at least one killing.
MSF said five percent of the population had been forced to physically harm somebody.
“In its clinic in Pader, MSF has treated several patients for the consequences of failed suicide attempts,†MSF said.
The survey also said 62% of the women interviewed thought about committing suicide.
Violence, perpetrated mainly by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in the last 18 years, has displaced about 1.6 million people. The rebel group has been accused of abducting 20,000 children.