{"id":51567,"date":"2020-08-08T00:30:05","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T22:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/africa-news\/central-africa\/central-african-republic\/coronavirus-somalia-risk-of-undetected-covid-19-in-camps-for-displaced\/"},"modified":"2020-08-08T00:30:06","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T22:30:06","slug":"coronavirus-somalia-risk-of-undetected-covid-19-in-camps-for-displaced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/africa-news\/central-africa\/central-african-republic\/coronavirus-somalia-risk-of-undetected-covid-19-in-camps-for-displaced\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus – Somalia: Risk of undetected COVID-19 in camps for displaced"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There have been an estimated 200,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across Africa. The World Health Organisation believes the virus is accelerating across the continent, spreading out from densely populated urban areas. Cases have been rising in Somalia\u2019s capital Mogadishu, a city already disrupted by years of conflict, and struggling to support thousands of internally displaced people (IDP). Habiba Haji, who is 43, lives in one of the camps for the displaced.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to work in the town but now it\u2019s all closed because of COVID-19,\u201d she says. \u201cThere\u2019s no work. Everybody is staying in their own homes. We are told not to leave our homes. Work has stopped because of this disease called coronavirus so that it doesn\u2019t spread.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

There are fears now that the virus will spread, undetected, among the crowded camps, where maintaining distance, sticking to hygiene rules, and staying healthy is a huge challenge.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are concerned that many COVID cases are going undetected, especially in the internal displaced camps,\u201d explains ICRC health coordinator Ana Maria Guzman. \u201cBecause of the ongoing conflict in Somalia, and also we are facing floods right now in Somalia, there is an increase in the number of internal displaced population into urban areas and this creates the perfect environment for infectious disease. That includes COVID-19 but not only COVID-19, acute watery diarrhoea and measles cases that have already been reported into the clinics.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The ICRC, working with the Somali Red Crescent Society, has begun disinfecting the camps. Testing and contact tracing is underway as well: it\u2019s a complex task in crowded displacement camps, many people can\u2019t provide contact details, others do not have mobile phones.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

While evictions from some IDP settlements have been suspended, reducing the potential for secondary displacement, added vulnerabilities and a further spread of COVID-19, the situation remains one of concern because more displaced are arriving every day, fleeing not just conflict, but the floods which have recently hit Somalia.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople have poured into the camps,\u201d says Habiba Haji. \u201cSome have houses, but others are sleeping in the open. They need support. The rains are falling, and they don\u2019t have anywhere to go. No blankets to keep warm. They don\u2019t have food to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The conditions pose a huge threat to the health of the most vulnerable, especially as other pressing needs\u2014like a day\u2019s wages, food, and shelter\u2014can easily take precedent for families over the invisible and silent threat of COVID-19.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Somali Red Crescent and the ICRC are working with local communities to prevent its spread, going door to door with advice on how to stay safe, tracing contacts, and supporting local health workers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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