The Endemic Infectious Diseases of Somalia
Abstract
The endemic infectious diseases of Somalia have already had and will continue to have - a profound impact on the local population. Diarrhea, measles, and malaria will continue to be major causes of mortality in displaced populations. The impact of these diseases on military; and civilian humanitarians is more unpredictable and will depend largely on the degree of adherence to preventive measures and on the local prevalence of vectors and pathogens. When the drought has ended and order has been restored to Somalia, the problems will not be over; the loss of live-stock by the nomads will be extensive, and the available alternatives in this harsh land are minimal. A previous drought in 1974 forced 250,000 nomadic and seminomadic persons into emergency relief camps and compelled another 750,000 to seek relief outside the camps. The widespread loss of animals (more than 5 million sheep and goats and 500,000 camels) prevented the resumption of a nomadic existence for many. The government attempted to relocate almost half of the displaced persons as farmers in settlement along the rivers in the south or as fishermen along the coast. However, the traditional nomadic contempt for farming and especially for fishing complicated resettlement, and many of those involved eventually returned to a marginal nomadic existence. In short, the combination of ancient clan rivalries, and absence of natural resources, a lack of both industrial and medical infrastructure, and the recurrence of droughts in this semiarid land make it likely that the current relief efforts of ORH are just one step in resolving the difficulties of Somalia....Endemicity; Diarrhea; Malaria; Measles; Drought; Survey; Patients; Somalia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA266190
Entities
People
- Edward C. Oldfield Iii
- Gregory C. Gray
- Guenael R. Rodier
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center