OCHA reports "alarming" increase in measles in Somalia

There has been an "alarming" rise in the number of suspected cases of measles in Somalia, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday.

OCHA said13,428 cases have been reported so far this year, compared to the  5,000 to 10,000 total cases per year since 2014.

"OCHA says the displacement caused by the ongoing drought is worsening the situation and exacerbating the spread of the disease. The agency is planning a nationwide emergency mass-vaccination measles campaign targeting children under 10 years of age, and said that some US$14 million dollars will be required to support the campaign." UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric has said.


UN Radio/GBC