*EPF204 12/28/2004
Text: U.N. Health Agency Sends Medical Supplies to South Asia
(WHO supports local health authorities to assess tsunami toll) (1000)

The World Health Organization (WHO) is sending medical supplies to meet the needs of 40,000 persons December 28, with more shipments planned in the days ahead in response to the devastating tsunamis in the Indian Ocean that struck eight nations December 26.

WHO reports in a December 27 press release that it is working with national and local authorities in the region to assess the extent of the health problems. National authorities will work to provide medical personnel and infrastructure while international partners will work to bring in necessary supplies, WHO says.

The challenge for medical personnel coping with mass casualties throughout the region could be compounded by respiratory infections, malaria and dengue fever as post-disaster conditions of overcrowding, poor sanitation and stagnant water begin to take an additional toll.

Citing water purification as an ����absolute priority,���� WHO is providing chlorine, water purification tablets and diarrheal medicines.

The text of the WHO press release follows:

(begin text)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

27 December 2004

South Asia earthquake and tsunamis

A series of earthquakes with epicentres off the Northern Sumatra (Aceh) and resultant tsunamis have hit Southeast Asia and caused serious damage and loss of life. The first, strongest quake on 26 December, at 0058 hours GMT, had the magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter Scale, followed by a second severe quake (0421 GMT). Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Thailand have been affected as well as Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Considerable numbers of deaths have already been reported, and figures can be expected to rise in the coming days. The tsunamis have caused large scale damage to infrastructures, including health facilities.

According to the latest information received, the scale and magnitude of the tsunamis seem to have been much less destructive in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Myanmar than in other countries, particularly in Sri Lanka, where the greatest level of needs seems to now concentrate.

Possible needs in the health sector and WHO's actions

At this stage, it is vital to assess the health situation as precisely as possible, and reach all the affected areas. WHO gives priority to rapid health assessment by supporting the efforts of national and local counterparts.

In Sri Lanka, a senior WHO official is on the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) evaluation team due to arrive in the country today

· In Indonesia, WHO is joining the Ministry of Health in a rapid assessment of the situation in Northern Sumatra to leave tomorrow while a Joint UN Mission will be deployed later in the week

· In Thailand and Myanmar the respective WHO Representatives are working closely with the Ministry of Health to assess affected areas in these countries.

· In India WHO is in touch with the local government officials and the local UNICEF offices for regular updates of the situation. The Office of the WHO Representative is monitoring the situation with regard to the status of relief measures/operations, health system status and population displacement / relief camps

Current figures concerning injured people indicate that hospitals will have to manage mass casualties with appropriate surgical and medical care. While national counterparts can provide the necessary human resources and systems, international partners will have to ensure the provision of necessary supplies.

· WHO is preparing to supply at least15 New Emergency Health Kits (each kit is designed to cover the basic health needs of 10,000 persons for three months) and 13 trauma kits (each covering 100 interventions) to the countries in the Region.

· WHO is sending four New Emergency Health Kits (NEHK) tomorrow (28 December) to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In Sri Lanka alone, there are already 250 temporary camps hosting people made homeless by the tsunami. Conditions such as overcrowding and inadequate shelter provide favorable conditions for acute respiratory infections, which can represent a major cause of death, especially for children, if left untreated.

South East Asia is endemic for malaria and dengue fever. Flooding and stagnant water create favorable conditions for the mosquito vector. Overcrowding facilitates mosquito bites and therefore transmission.

WHO is setting in place a strict monitoring of the epidemiological situation trough the roll back malaria regional program and the regional Denguenet Poor quality and quantity of water and insufficient sanitation, overcrowding and poor hygiene in temporary camps will bring forward the risk for outbreaks of different diarrhoeal diseases. Thorough and sustained water purification is an absolute priority.

WHO is providing chlorine and water purification tablets to partners In order to be prepared against possible outbreaks WHO is mobilizing at least 15 diarrhoeal kits (each kit is designed to treat 100 SEVERE cases of diarrhea and/or cholera)

Apart from biological pollution, the possibility that the environment be polluted by leaks or overflows from flooded chemical factories and warehouses must also be taken into consideration. Water can be contaminated by gasoline and oil leaking from damaged vehicles.

WHO programs for water and sanitation and for international chemical safety have been alerted

Dead bodies do not pose any health threat, but they feed fears and can divert precious attention and resources from effective relief efforts. Technical guidance and rational decisions based on sound scientific evidence are another priority need for the health of all the affected and surrounding populations. WHO is working on strengthening health coordination and evidence-based decision making in all affected countries in the region.

Coordinating joint action for health is critical. To this end WHO is:

· strengthening the capacity of its South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) to ensure harmonization of regional relief operation

· collaborating with UNDAC and other UN bodies

· working closely with national authorities

Resources

Financial support has been received from the Government of Italy and funding for immediate action has been provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) . Given the magnitude of the disaster, needs are anticipated to be large, and WHO will revert shortly on the requirements.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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