NAIROBI, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged robust COVID-19 mitigation measures in humanitarian hotspots across the Sub-Saharan African region to avert mass fatalities.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said that communities displaced by violence and natural calamities in the continent require special attention given their vulnerability to the pandemic.
"COVID-19 has exacerbated existing humanitarian challenges, particularly with regards to access to health services in many countries in the region," Moeti said in a statement.
The Sub-Saharan African region hosts more than 26 percent of the world's refugees and about 19 million internally displaced people who fled their homes due to conflict.
"During this global crisis, these are among the most vulnerable people in the world to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Moeti, adding that lockdowns and curfews have slowed down delivery of emergency aid to Africa's humanitarian hotspots.
She urged greater investments in COVID-19 testing and case management for victims of long-running conflicts in Africa.
"If we do not step up health services, including testing, tracing, isolation and care for people already living in precarious settings and displacement camps, COVID-19 could spark untold tragedy," said Moeti.
WHO in conjunction with relief agencies has developed protocols for implementation in the camps for displaced persons to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The protocols are rooted for enhanced testing, isolation, hand and respiratory hygiene alongside physical distancing to mitigate against the spread of the virus in crowded refugee camps.
Moeti said that humanitarian agencies have supported community involvement in surveillance and infection control activities in the camps for displaced people in Ethiopia.
She said that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, laboratories are being equipped in the camps for displaced persons to boost COVID-9 diagnosis.
Moeti said that this week's launch of an updated United Nations Global Humanitarian Response Plan will boost COVID-19 response in refugee camps across Africa through improved access to clean water, food and nutritional support. Enditem
