Health authorities in Cameroon are struggling to contain a fast-moving cholera outbreak that has already killed at least 28 people and infected over 1 000 others in just a month.
The crisis is hitting hardest at the Minawao refugee camp in the Far North region. Originally built for far fewer people, the site is now crammed with over 80 000 refugees, running at an overwhelming 324% of its intended capacity. When you factor in the surrounding local communities, correspondent Moki Kindzeka reports that around 100 000 people in the immediate area are living in the direct line of infection.
According to Moki, getting a handle on the outbreak is turning into a logistical nightmare for local officials. Basic human necessities are almost non-existent inside and around the camp; families are forced to go without clean drinking water, and proper toilets are few and far between.
To make matters worse, the official numbers barely scratch the surface of how bad things really are. Roughly 70% of locals avoid going to formal hospitals when they get sick, leaving countless uncounted cases in rural neighborhoods. Local civil society groups argue the actual death toll could easily be double what the government is reporting.
The struggle to deliver aid is further complicated by constant security threats. The camp sits near the borders of Nigeria and Chad, a volatile zone frequently targeted by Boko Haram. Moki notes that aid workers and medical teams trying to reach vulnerable women and children are constantly risking their lives, with recent insurgent attacks nearby resulting in civilian deaths and abductions.
–ChannelAfrica–
