© UNHCR/L. Padoan

Approximately 4,000 Somali refugees have been moved to a new camp in Ethiopia as part of an ongoing operation to decongest areas hosting recent arrivals from famine-hit Somalia.

Over 78,000 Somalis have arrived in southern Ethiopia's Dollo Ado area since January, overwhelming reception capacities in this remote location. Kobe camp, which was opened in June for the new arrivals, filled up within weeks.

Another camp, Hilaweyn, has recently been completed. On 5th August, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration started transferring refugees from the overcrowded Dollo Ado transit centre to this new camp. With 1,000 refugees being moved every day, the transfer of 15,000 refugees from the transit centre is expected to be completed within two weeks.

The relocation comes amid efforts to control a recent outbreak of suspected measles in the Dollo Ado camps. UNHCR and its partners are conducting screening and measles vaccination for all children between the ages of six months and 15 years before their transfer to Hilaweyn camp.

On 9th August, more vaccines were airlifted to Dollo Ado with support from UNICEF and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. UNHCR and its partners are also preparing to expand the measles vaccination campaign to Kobe camp, the worst-affected in the area.

Health partners have started a large community mobilization campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of measles with a focus on the '3 Rs' – red eyes, a rash and runny nose. Health education materials in the Somali language have been dispatched to Dollo Ado. Messages are being disseminated at food distribution centres, water collection points and in health and nutrition centres. Religious and community leaders have also been mobilized to raise awareness, and particularly to encourage families to take the sick to health centres. Surveillance in the camps has been intensified to ensure that cases are identified and immediately sent to health clinics for treatment. Diarrhoea, respiratory tract infection and acute malnutrition remain the main causes of death.