Measles is also spreading in the border ​town of Adre, where an increase in ​arrivals in recent weeks has left camps overcrowded, ⁠making it easier for diseases to spread, the medical ​aid group said in a statement.

Out of 212 children ​admitted to MSF facilities with meningitis from March to April, 25 had died, “a shocking case fatality rate,” MSF added.

“Every day, we ​see children arriving with severe measles, often complicated by ​pneumonia, requiring urgent hospitalisation,” Isabelle Kavira, MSF Medical Activity Manager in ‌Adre, ⁠said. “At the same time, bed occupancy for meningitis is close to 100%, saturating our capacity and compromising care for other conditions.”

More than 1.3 million Sudanese refugees are living ​in neighbouring ​Chad, according to ⁠United Nations figures, including survivors of mass killings and famine in Darfur.

Most arrived since ​the start of the conflict in Sudan between ​the army ⁠and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. Chad’s health ministry and MSF staff have given emergency vaccinations to ⁠more ​than 95 500 children against measles and ​to 337 800 people against meningitis in the most affected areas, the ​charity said.

–Reuters–