The ongoing conflict in Sudan has caused a humanitarian crisis, forcing over half a million people to flee to South Sudan, one of the poorest regions in the world. HealthNet TPO is at the forefront of providing essential healthcare and mental health support to these refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Operating in critical locations like Wedweil primary healthcare unit and Gok Machar primary healthcare centre, HealthNet TPO delivers trauma care, disease treatment, and mental health counselling to thousands of people crossing the border from Sudan. Wedweil also serves as a temporary settlement for those awaiting transfer to refugee camps, with the number of patients seen daily surging from 50 to over 200, putting immense pressure on already overstretched facilities.
In addition to healthcare, HealthNet TPO provides emergency vaccinations through mobile teams, safeguarding vulnerable populations against diseases like COVID-19. The organisation also conducts risk communication initiatives on disease prevention, hygiene, sanitation, nutrition education, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
HealthNet TPO’s efforts, supported by Boma Health Workers and facility staff, are critical to empowering and protecting these communities amidst an escalating crisis. However, with the increasing number of arrivals, there is an urgent need for more resources to meet the growing healthcare demands.
On October 7th, 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes struck Afghanistan’s Herat province, leading to the deaths of over 1,500 people and injuring more than 2,000. Entire villages were reduced to rubble, with over 21,500 homes destroyed and 154,000 people directly affected.
In the wake of this disaster, HealthNet TPO rapidly deployed its mobile health teams and psychological counsellors to deliver vital emergency healthcare and psychological first aid across the region.
Working in coordination with other humanitarian organisations, HealthNet TPO provided immediate relief, including emergency shelter, nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and protection services.
Within the first two days, 122 individuals received emergency health and mental health support. Psychological first aid was also delivered to 150 women and girls in the Babji School area, helping them cope with the trauma of the earthquake. In total, over 440 individuals received psychosocial counselling.
HealthNet TPO’s mobile teams continued to distribute dignity kits, tarpaulins, and blankets, ensuring that families could begin the process of healing and rebuilding their lives. Through these efforts, HealthNet TPO played a crucial role in supporting affected communities in the aftermath of the disaster.
In 2023, Burundi faced a severe humanitarian crisis, with 1.5 million people (i.e., 11% of the population) needing assistance due to displacement, food insecurity, and natural disasters.
According to UNOCHA, an alarming 19% of the population faced acute food insecurity, leading to a revision in response plans to include an additional 500,000 individuals needing emergency aid.
HealthNet TPO has been selected by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, for a four-year partnership beginning in 2024 to improve health and nutritional conditions in refugee camps and transit centres nationwide.
With over 20 years of experience working in Burundi, HealthNet TPO is well-positioned to address the complex challenges facing the country’s vulnerable populations. The organisation will continue to provide essential healthcare and nutrition services while expanding its focus on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
This partnership not only allows HealthNet TPO to continue its operations but also leverages its long-standing expertise in supporting populations in crisis, ensuring that both immediate and long-term needs are met for refugees and displaced persons in Burundi.
South Sudan is among the countries hardest hit by the climate crisis, with extreme weather events like flooding, droughts, and rising temperatures worsening the plight of its vulnerable populations. These climate-related disasters have led to widespread displacement, loss of life, and damage to livelihoods, with approximately 9 million people (i.e., 82% of the population) urgently needing food assistance.
Over one-third of the country’s counties are facing severe food shortages. As communities struggle with the physical devastation caused by climate events, they also face mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In response, HealthNet TPO is actively supporting those affected by the climate crisis in South Sudan. Through mobile clinics funded by the HPF emergency fund, the organisation provides essential healthcare and nutrition services, targeting areas most affected by displacement due to climate-related disasters. Alongside physical health interventions, HealthNet TPO offers psychosocial support to individuals and communities grappling with the mental toll of these crises.
By addressing both the immediate health needs and the long-term psychological impacts of the climate crisis, HealthNet TPO plays a crucial role in helping communities adapt and recover in the face of an increasingly unstable environment.
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