Abstract

Hafiz Mohammad Noman, Arslan Sajid, Muhammad Maaz Arif*, Ghulam Ali, Muhammad Ahsan Amir, Javed Akram

ABSTRACT

Since April 2023, Chad's Ouaddai region, which borders war-torn Sudan, has experienced a humanitarian crisis as a result of the entry of over 720,000 Sudanese refugees, the majority of whom are women and children, with over 445,000 settling in Ouaddai alone. The congested refugee camps, with inadequate sanitation and limited health services, have resulted in a massive Hepatitis E outbreak, with 2,092 suspected cases documented by April 2024, 95% of which are in refugee camps. The disease, which is mostly transmitted by polluted water and poor hygiene, has hit hardest in regions like the Adré and Aboutengué camps. WHO, MSF, UNICEF, and others prioritize infection control, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) measures, and medical assistance. Improving water quality, particularly through chlorination to WHO guidelines (0.5 mg/L FRC), is critical for reducing the ongoing illness load.