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Newest nation faces drought, violence and mass migration

4 August 2011

Travel Health Advice for those travelling to or working in South Sudan...

July 9th marked the creation of the new Republic of South Sudan. Shortly afterwards, the United Nations General Assembly admitted the Republic of South Sudan as its 193rd member. The newly independent country gained independence from the rest of Sudan as a result of the January 2011 referendum, which formed part of the peace agreement that ended the long civil war between the North and South of Sudan.

The number of people who have returned to South Sudan since the autumn of 2010 is estimated at 325,400 and this has placed enormous pressure on food and water supplies in South Sudan and on the nation’s fragile infrastructure. Currently, 1 million people are receiving food aid in the country, but this figure is likely to grow as a result of the large numbers of people newly returned to the country and the impact of the current drought in the Horn of Africa.

The town of Abyei is claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan and has been the focus of repeated violence over the past few months. Abyei is a fertile and oil-producing region and has been the subject of bombings and attacks which have driven many of its residents out of the town where their living conditions are very fragile and insecure. The slow of deployment of United Nations peacekeepers from Ethiopia to the town means that more than 100,000 displaced people are unable to return home.

Fighting has continued in the south this year with 2,300 people killed so far this year. Significant tensions exist between the Ngok-Dinka who make up much of the leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army and the Nuer.

Vaccinations

Check you are in date for the following:

  • Diphtheria & Tetanus
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Meningitis ACWY
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella) or history of measles as a child
  • Polio
  • Rabies
  • Typhoid
  • Yellow fever - if travelling between the countries affected by the Horn of Africa drought it is worth having this vaccine as there are country variations as to whether it is recommended.

Malaria

Malaria risk is present. Your choice of malaria prevention medication is from the following:

Kits

We recommend you carry the following:

 Further advice on the following is  available on Interhealth's Travel Health Advice Centre:

  • Diarrhoea & dysentery
  • Malaria fact sheet
  • Insect protection
  • Sunburn
  • Skin: how to take care of yours

Detailed information about the above vaccinations can be found on InterHealth's Travel Health Advice Centre (only available to TravelWell Plan subscribers).

Sources: United Nations News Service, IRIN

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