Médecins Sans Frontières - ENG /Measles outbreak in Darfur

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB233683

Date taken / Date Recorded 01/06/2025 12:00 AM

Country Sudan

Commissioning section MSF-SWITZERLAND

Photographer / videographer / producer Thibault Fendler

Copyright MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 1m33s

Maximum Size 1080px × 1920px 82.34 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Francis Ocan – Project Medical Referent in Rokero
We have already registered 10 deaths. All these deaths are really children…
TEXT
For a year now, MSF has been responding to measles outbreaks in Darfur
First cases were observed in Rokero, Central Darfur, in June 2024,
But since February 2025, The disease has been spreading, all over the region (MAP- Forbrenga and Tawila, Tine, Zalingei, Jebel Marra east)
MSF teams in Darfur, have treated more than 9,950 children,
35 deaths have been registered.
Francis Ocan - Project Medical Referent in Rokero
The best way to prevent measles is to make sure that the community is actually vaccinated. Most of the primary health care centers in Rokero administrative unit are currently lacking routine vaccines,… because of a lot of the supply chain breakdown, we cannot have consistent supply of vaccines.
TEXT
Over the past two years, insecurity, roadblocks
and administrative constraints due to the ongoing conflict
have been at the root of vaccine shortages.
It has impacted sharply the vaccination coverage of the region, which was already low.
Sue Bucknell, Deputy Head of Mission, for West Darfur
In the cases that we're seeing in Foro Baranga, 30% of those cases are above the age of five years and only 5% are vaccinated, suggesting that the lack of vaccination is much older than the recent conflict.
In addition, massive movements of populations
and overcrowding in the displacement camps also
contribute to the fast-spreading of contagious illnesses.
TEXT
In the coming weeks, more than 170,000 children will be vaccinated
in Central and West and North Darfur, with the support of MSF.
But a massive effort by all the medical actors currently working in Darfur is still necessary
to catch-up on the vaccination of all the children who were left behind over the years.