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Title: Health update: refugees and displaced communities. Journal: Dialogue Diarrhoea; 1991 Jun; (45 Suppl):1-6. PubMed ID: 12284300. Abstract: 30 million refugees or displaces persons exist in the world. In the early periods of displacement, death rates among these people rate very high. For example, death rates, especially among children, in refugee camps in Ethiopia (1985) and in the Sudan (1988) stood 60 times higher than those of nonrefugee communities. The major contributors to morbidity and mortality include no sanitation infrastructure and contaminated water supplies. Moreover, the refugees or displaced persons must likely are already in a weak physical state and under stress caused by the traumatic and difficult situation they are escaping. 50% are children. Further, since the social structure has been damaged and the people long to return home, they may be unwilling to expend time and energy into projects to improve the situation. Nevertheless one must act promptly to prevent the spread of disease, especially diarrhea. 1st, public health workers need to assess the situation. They must plan on at least 5 liters/person/day. After several days, they should increase this amount to at least 15-20 liters. Clinics may need as much as 60 liters. Public health workers also determine if the water supply, once found, is subject to fecal contamination. If so, they must take steps to prevent it, such as installing a fence around wells or springs to keep animals at a distance. Further, they must find out how the water is protected from contamination at the collecting point and once each family unit has fetched its water. If possible, the water should be filtered and/or chlorinated. They must also determine the best ways to dispose of waste. These may include setting aside defecation areas, building latrines, covering childrens' feces, and digging refuse pits. Effective health education should be an integral part of refugee camp life. In conclusion, workers must monitor the situation frequently.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]