UN aids scores of thousands displaced by volcano in Comoros

Joining in emergency relief operations in the small Indian Ocean country of Comoros, where a volcanic eruption may have displaced more than a third of the total population, the United Nations is assisting national authorities in providing clean water, clearing away dust and debris and assessing damage to agriculture and livestock.

There are concerns about the impact of pollution due to volcanic debris on public health, agriculture and livestock for some 250,000 people living in 76 villages in the areas covered by the ash and smoke, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement today.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the Government's delivery of clean water by providing water tanks, fuel for trucks, and financial resources to cover operational costs. On average, 200,000 litres of water have been delivered each day. UNICEF has also supported the cleaning of all schools and is ensuring their water supply.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is providing technical expertise to assess public health and water and sanitation conditions. Affected populations have also been inhaling toxic dust since Karthala volcano began erupting on 24 November and many, including the elderly and children, are now having trouble breathing freely.

UNOSAT, a UN initiative offering the humanitarian community access to satellite imagery, is working to provide accurate images of the Karthala Volcano area in the next days. Additionally, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), together with UNICEF and WHO, will provide material support such as computers and office equipment to the National Emergency Operations Centre.

Karthala, on the main island of Njazidja, has displaced between 180,000 and 250,000 people, out of a total population of about 670,000 living on the islands between continental Africa and Madagascar.