Oxfam gears up its aid effort to escalating cholera crisis in Sierra Leone

International agency Oxfam will be flying out eight tons of water purification aid to Sierra Leone as it boosts its response to the cholera outbreak which is spreading across the country. The $96,000 aid package will leave the agency’s emergency warehouse on Tuesday morning 28 August. This is the second batch of Oxfam aid flown from the UK and is part of a $4.3m program which is aimed at helping at least 450,000 people.

In Sierra Leone 12,500 people have contracted the disease and there have been 224 deaths. Pouring rain continues to hamper the response as water can become easily contaminated. Oxfam is expanding its work in the capital and rural areas. It is chlorinating water so that it is safe to drink, handing out water purification tablets and running public information campaigns on how to avoid contracting cholera. The agency is also training community volunteers, called Blue Flag Volunteers, on ways to increase awareness and prevent the spread of cholera.