Doctors warn of epidemic in Muzaffarnagar relief camps

There is a possibility of an outbreak of epidemics in relief camps where thousands of riot-hit victims have taken shelter following last month's communal violence in Muzaffarnagar, a team of doctors said after a survey of the areas.
A 10-member team of Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) from the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, that recently visited the riot-hit areas of Muzaffarnagar, in its report has highlighted the possibility of an epidemic in relief camps.
"If immediate remedial steps are not undertaken on a war footing by the concerned authorities and relief agencies the situation could become worse," the report said.
In a statement here here today, the RDA said that in the relief camps people were living in completely unhygienic and unsanitary conditions.

The report said that a large number of the residents of these relief camps were suffering from psychological effects of deep trauma and there was an urgent need for providing immediate medical assistance and also for drawing up a long term rehabilitation programme for the displaced persons.
President of the RDA, Dr Mohd. Ahsanullah said that the report had been prepared by a team of 10 doctors which visited the worst affected villages of Shahpur, Malakpur, Sunaithi, Barnavi, Kandhla, Jola and Islamabad.