WHO to send teams to Burma
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is awaiting permission to send medical teams into Burma after fears from health officials that the country could be devastated by outbreaks of diseases fuelled by mosquitos, dirty water and poor sanitation.
A spokeswoman for the WHO's regional office in New Delhi has expressed fears that the country's wrecked infrastructure could hamper early effort with "communications broken down" and "roads not operational", reports the Press Association.
Teams from the WHO will work to prevent mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and other outbreaks like diahorrea which can spread due to a lack of clean water and sanitation in disaster-hit areas.
Respiratory illness among children is also a major concern to the WHO, after suffering injuries during the storm and being forced to sleep outside.
Unicef has sent three teams to Burma to deliver life-saving supplies and provide access to clean water, safe sanitation and improved hygiene.
It has identified immediate needs such as water purification tablets, bed nets, emergency health kits and an emergency nutrition response.
Send this article to a friend
Comment on this article
Bookmark this video