USAID Sends Emergency Assistance To Djibouti For Cholera

The American people
through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are providing
$100,000 in emergency funding to the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) for
medical supplies and to facilitate an intensive health, sanitation and
hygiene campaign to prevent the further spread of diarrhea in Djibouti.


Since January 2007, limited access to safe drinking water and poor
sanitation and hygiene conditions led to a surge in diarrhea and cholera in
Djibouti, primarily affecting Djibouti city and nearby Dikhil and Tadjourah
districts, according to the Djibouti Ministry of Health. Three surges in
reported cases of diarrhea and cholera in January, April and September have
drained the resources of local government and relief agencies to adequately
respond. The ministry reported more than 1,000 diarrhea cases since early
September and reports over 40 new cases per day.



USAID, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, will continue
to monitor the situation and is prepared to provide additional assistance
if needed.



For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance
programs, please visit:
usaid/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance.



The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International
Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide
for nearly 50 years.


U.S. Agency for International Development

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