Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abyei (Agenzia Fides) - Entire cities have been emptied and thousands of people are fleeing from the fighting erupted in the Sudanese region of Abyei on the night of May 20 (see Fides 21,23,24,25,30 / 5 / 2011 9 / 6 / 2011). The population has fled from their homes with few belongings and the travelling conditions are particularly tough now that the rainy season has started and the roads are muddy. "Both the people from Abyei and those from Agok are disperced and distributed in different areas: near Turalei, Mayen-Adun and along the road to Agok" this is what a statement released by Medecins Sans Frontieres says (MSF), and a copy was sent to Fides. The organization's medical teams are assisting the displaced people who fled the fighting which occurred mainly in the town of Abyei. MSF has suspended all basic health activities in the city, while in the hospital of Agok, 40 km south of Abyei, 50 wounded in clashes that took place over the weekend were admitted. One point for rehydration was installed in the hospital of Agok. The majority of the patients admitted to Agok were discharged, with a ration of ready to use therapeutic food for two weeks. The hospital continues to provide basic medical care to the population. MSF is also setting up a base in Turalei to support surgical activities in the local health center. Medical equipment and non-food basics such as shelter, mosquito nets, soap and plastic covers have also been sent to Turalei.
MSF has been providing emergency humanitarian assistance in Sudan since 1979 and is currently working on 27 projects in 13 states in the country. It has been working in the Abyei area since 2006, providing basic health care in the town of Abyei, including prenatal care and treatment for malnutrition. In 2010, MSF teams carried out 18,534 medical outpatients. Deliveries and the most serious cases are sent to the hospital in Agok, which provides a wide range of services including surgery, maternity, outpatient treatment and hospitalization, there is an active pediatric ward, a tuberculosis and a nutritional center for malnourished children. In 2010, 31,199 outpatient visits were carried out. In January 2011 a fully functional operating room was inaugurated. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 06/10/2011)
