Measles vaccinations start in Ethiopian refugee camp

10 Aug, 2011

Measles has broken out in a refugee camp for Somalis in southern Ethiopia. In the Kobe camp near Dollo Ado in the south-east of the country 47 people were diagnosed with measles at the beginning of August. A dangerous disease at any time, it is particularly dangerous for many of the children in the camp.

A United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report at the end of July estimated there were over 100,000 refugees in camps in the Dollo area and that one in three children was severely undernourished.

A mass vaccination campaign started on 9 August for children under 15 years old. The campaign is being organised by the United Nations Children