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A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 22 July 2019

War-weakened South Sudan tries to prepare for Ebola

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) in (Congo) could travel to
— With the deadly Ebola South Sudan, or any neigh-
outbreak in Congo now an boring country, undetect-
international emergency , ed during the 21-day incu-
neighboring South Sudan bation period and spread
and its war-weakened the disease once conta-
health system is a major gious."
concern, especially after That recently happened
one case was confirmed in neighboring Uganda, a
near its border. Health ex- more stable country with
perts say there is an urgent a more developed health
need to increase preven- system and experience
tion efforts. with past Ebola outbreaks,
The World Health Organiza- as millions of people flow
tion on Wednesday made across borders in the dense-
the emergency declara- ly populated region. Three
tion for the year-old out- people died in Uganda
break, a rare move that before other family mem-
usually leads to more glob- bers were taken back to
al attention and aid. More Congo for treatment and
than 1,600 people have Ugandan officials quickly
died in what has become In this Tuesday Feb. 26 2019 photo, health workers give a training presentation about how to de- declared the country was
the second-worst Ebola tect and prevent the spread of Ebola, in an army barracks outside South Sudan's town of Yei. again free of the disease.
outbreak in history. Associated Press Ebola's spread into South
Health experts worry about Sudan would pose more of
what would happen if spite a fragile peace deal posed to the virus and this outbreak was declared. a challenge.
Ebola reaches South Su- signed in September. warned not to travel. "The risk of cases of Ebola Even though Ebola pre-
dan as the shattered na- Last month a 41-year-old South Sudan has sent a coming across the border paredness, including vac-
tion tries to recover from a woman was discovered health team to strengthen into South Sudan is very cinations for some health
five-year civil war that killed with Ebola in northeastern surveillance at one of its high," said Sudhir Bunga, workers, began several
nearly 400,000 people and Congo, just 70 kilometers busiest border posts, Kaya South Sudan country di- months ago the current
displaced millions. Many (43 miles) from South Su- in Central Equatoria state, rector for the Centers for phase of the country's $12
health facilities were badly dan. She had traveled 500 near where the woman's Disease Control and Pre- million response plan is just
damaged or destroyed, kilometers from Beni, the case was confirmed. Hers vention. "A person who 36% funded, according to
and unrest continues in epicenter of the outbreak, was the closest confirmed comes into contact with a a report this month by the
parts of the country de- despite having been ex- case to South Sudan since confirmed case of Ebola country's health ministry.q

Militants bomb, derail phosphate train in central Syria

Associated Press Homs province. forces in the country's civil ernment is waging a limited of the village of Urum al-Joz
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A Russian company con- war, now in its ninth year. but stalled offensive. Small- in southern Idlib province.
Syria's transport ministry trolled by a childhood Before the war, Syria was er armed groups in north- The opposition-operated
said a freight train carry- friend of President Vladimir one of the world's top ex- ern, central and eastern Shaam news agency said
ing phosphate derailed Putin has secured a 50-year porters of phosphate. IS Syria have vowed to target those killed had previously
and caught fire Sunday concession from the Syr- militants held territory in government and Kurdish- been displaced from the
after getting hit by explo- ian government for most central Homs and gained controlled facilities. southern tip of the rebel
sives planted on the tracks of the output of the major control of the phosphate In northwestern Syria, where stronghold.
by militants in the country's phosphate field in Homs mines in 2015. the nearly four-month of- Rescue workers, known as
center. after the mines were liber- Despite the territorial de- fensive continues, first re- Syria's Civil Defense or White
The government-owned ated from the Islamic State feat, IS militants remain sponders and activists said Helmets, said three children
train was transporting phos- group in 2017. holed up in parts of cen- government bombing of and a woman were killed in
phate from mines in Khu- The same company has tral Syria, where they the last major rebel area Kfaruma, south of Urum al-
nayfis in Homs province, an agreement with the Syr- have increased their at- killed at least 11 civilians on Joz. A White Helmet volun-
and the ministry said tech- ian government to rebuild tacks against government Sunday. teer was killed in the town
nical teams were working the country's only fertilizer troops. While the govern- The Britain-based Syr- of Khan Sheikhoun, the
to repair the railway and plant and develop one of ment now controls over 60 ian Observatory for Human group said.
restore traffic. its main ports. percent of Syria, there is still Rights said six people were The offensive began in late
Last week, militants also Russia is a main backer of a rebel stronghold in the killed, including a child, in April, displacing more than
targeted a gas pipeline in President Bashar Assad's northwest, where the gov- the government bombing 300,000 people.q