The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has allocated 250,000 Swiss francs ( US$241,000 / €155,000) from its disaster relief emergency fund to support the Sudanese Red Crescent Society in its response to an acute watery diarrhoea epidemic affecting Sudan's Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria regions.

According to government figures, at least 640 cases have been reported and 45 people have already died.

"South Sudan has been experiencing acute watery diarrhoea outbreaks almost yearly. Epidemics occurred in 2006 and 2007 as well. Medical evidence shows that at least some of the cases recently reported are due to cholera," says John Roche, IFRC's Operations Coordinator for Africa in Geneva. "There is a need to act quickly and limit the spread of the epidemic especially by rising awareness among local communities," he adds.

The operation supported by the IFRC will involve distributing water purification tablets and soap to at least 360,000 people. Water points will also be treated. Around 160 Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers are already working with affected communities. They will receive additional training to conduct hygiene promotion campaigns and organize community clean- up efforts to remove garbage. Volunteers will also help with the identification of new cases so that patients can be referred to hospitals as quickly as possible. The Sudanese Red Crescent Society is part of an epidemic task force set up by the Sudanese government to coordinate the humanitarian response, along with other partners, including UN agencies. For further information, to set up interviews, please contact: Media Unit Duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81