Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Humanitarian Crisis at Hitsats Makeshift IDP Camp in Tigray: Urgent Action Needed
A recent health assessment of the makeshift Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Hitsats, located in the Northwestern Zone of Tigray, has uncovered critical public health and humanitarian challenges, necessitating immediate intervention. The assessment, conducted by the Tigray Medical Association (TMA) in collaboration with the Tigray Regional Health Bureau, highlights alarming conditions affecting the camp’s population of 14,134 individuals.
The camp is home to 4,625 households, with a near-equal distribution of male and female-headed families. However, the population’s vulnerability is disproportionate, with 4,342 children under the age of five and 2,506 adults aged 60 and above. Of particular concern, 1,700 elderly individuals live without caregivers, underscoring a severe gap in social and health support systems.
Further compounding the crisis, 497 persons with disabilities reside in the camp, and more than 360 households are currently excluded from receiving essential food assistance. These deficiencies pose significant risks to the affected populations, including gaps in protection, nutrition, and health services, potentially leading to further deterioration in living conditions.
In response to these findings, the Tigray Medical Association has outlined a series of urgent actions aimed at addressing the most pressing needs of the displaced population. Key initiatives include:
- Support for Vulnerable Groups: Organizing meal preparation and distribution for elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, and others unable to prepare food independently.
- Addressing Nutritional Gaps: Supporting malnutrition screening and advocating for targeted nutrition services for children, pregnant and lactating women, and other high-risk groups.
- Restoring Emergency Referrals: Mobilizing ambulance services to ensure timely emergency referrals from the camp.
- Strengthening Health Service Delivery: Deploying medical professionals and advocating for the provision of essential medicines and supplies to maintain continuous care.
- Improving Diagnostic Capacity: Providing basic diagnostic tools and point-of-care testing to support clinical decision-making.
The Tigray Medical Association is working closely with various stakeholders, including the Tigray Regional Health Bureau, to implement complementary response mechanisms that fill gaps in services not currently covered by other partners.
The organization has called for further collaboration with health professionals, humanitarian groups, and international partners to prevent further loss of life and mitigate the crisis in Hitsats and other IDP camps in the region.
For more information, Tigray Medical Association can be contacted via the following channels:
Website: https://tmeda.org/
Contact Number: +251944777711
Email: info@tmeda.org
The ongoing crisis in Hitsats is a stark reminder of the pressing need for coordinated international and local efforts to address the challenges faced by displaced populations in Tigray.
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