Sleeper Tragedies of the Year: Kala Azar, Trypanosomiasis, Chagas, and Buruli

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2009-12-22 11:24:00 UTC
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Doctors Without Borders (Medicins sans frontier, MSF) announced its annual list of "World's 10 worst humanitarian crises." The list includes the war zone all-stars. But we mustn't forget that some of the most terrifying and threatening tragedies are not of human origin.

Malaria, Polio, Tuberculosis, and malnutrition-related disease remain dangerous. This year MSF highlights four disease you may not have heard of. And yes, they are especially worrisome in places where conflict has isolated communities...

1. Violence against civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

2. Violence, civilians cut off from aid in Afghanistan

3. Violence and lack of access to health care in Somalia

4. Violence, lack of aid in northern Yemen

5. Violence, disease, lack of health care in southern Sudan, Darfur

6. Inadequate funding for treatment of childhood malnutrition

7. Civilians trapped in war-torn Sri Lanka

8. Stagnated funding for treatment of AIDS/HIV

9. Violence, civilian neglect in Pakistan

10. Lack of research, treatment of neglected diseases kala azar, sleeping sickness [trypanosomiasis], Chagas disease and Buruli ulcer.

[Photo: Congo DR, UN Photo]

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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