The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for concerted actions among its partners to fight health risks threatening millions of people in the flood-hit Horn of Africa region.

In its latest update on the crisis received here Thursday, the UN health agency said increased risks of cholera, dysentery, measles and malaria are threatening millions of people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia due to severe drought followed by the worst floods in recent memory which killed hundreds and displaced thousands others.

"Preliminary estimates are that the health and life-saving aspects of the operation may demand from the Health Cluster (WHO and its partners) as much as five dollars per beneficiary per month," WHO said.

It urged all partners to ensure the continuation of vital services including vaccination programs in the three flood-ravaged countries.

The UN health agency cited the need to counter the immediate risk of outbreaks of communicable diseases; prepare for all contingencies over the next six months in light of increased political tensions and social distress, population movements and new weather vagaries and epidemics; and strengthen public health programs such as polio control so that they can operate in an increasingly difficult environment.

"The health risks and the operational challenges are daunting and call for a commensurate mobilization of resources," it said, adding that it was mobilizing its own "surge capacity" to strengthen its presence at regional, country and field levels in line with evolving needs and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

WHO said it was currently looking at an affected population of about 2 million as far as immediate and medium term threats are concerned, but severe food shortages caused by the prolonged drought throughout the region are affecting up to 8.5 million people.

Outbreaks of diarrheal diseases have been reported in Ethiopia and Kenya amid a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation. The risks of outbreaks have been exacerbated by population displacement and gatherings in camps as well as by the interruption of programs, which are critical for global health such as polio eradication.

"In this context, WHO, as the leader of the Global Health Cluster, is calling on all concerned partners to harmonize their activities around three strategic objectives," the agency said.

Source: Xinhua