A month in focus: August 2015

Ebola: a hope-bringing vaccine; Lebanon: Lives ruined by the conflict; Tanzania: Cholera, a new threat to Burundian refugees; Malawi: In the over-populated prisons; Antivenom serums: In worrying shortage; Yemen: "You come and do the work!".

Project Update - 17 Aug 2015

South Sudan

On pace for a second, exceptionally severe malaria season

MSF stresses the need to be prepared for the possibility of another severe malaria season in South Sudan. While the medical needs in conflict-affected areas of the country are beyond critical, basic primary healthcare cannot be neglected anywhere in the country. Otherwise, a second devastating malaria season could result in an untold number of preventable deaths. Project Update - 14 Aug 2015

International Migrants Day

“I was inside the ship when it started sinking.”

Testimonies from people rescued by MSF’s search and rescue vessel Dignity I after a boat capsized on 5 August 2015 in the Mediterranean waters north of Libya. Voices from the Field - 12 Aug 2015

Greece

Greek authorities’ inaction turns into abuse of refugees in Kos

“MSF is very worried about how the situation is evolving in Kos.” says Brice de le Vingne, MSF Director of Operations. “What was previously a situation of state inaction is now one of state abuse, with police using increasing heavy handed force against these vulnerable people. The great majority of people arriving here are refugees fleeing war in Syria and Afghanistan. The Kos authorities have clearly stated that they have no intention of improving the situation for these people as they believe that this would constitute a ‘pull factor’. But the truth is that people fleeing war will keep on coming whether or not the authorities are trying to stop them from doing so.” Project Update - 12 Aug 2015

Mediterranean migration

Rescue in the Mediterranean sea

On Thursday 6 August 2015, the MSF Search & Rescue boat Bourbon Argos engaged in a complicated and tense rescue operation of a vessel in visible distress crammed with 613 passengers. Photo Story - 10 Aug 2015

Myanmar

MSF assisting thousands as worst flooding in decades hits parts of the country

After days of severe rains across swathes of Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Komen, MSF is working with local government authorities to provide medical and non-medical aid to thousands of people affected by flooding.“The entire township of Minbya is flooded – schools, hospitals, everything,” said MSF doctor, Dr. Zayar, who was part of a team sent to the town at the request of State Health Department, the Emergency Coordination Committee and other community groups. “All drinking water sources are flooded too.” Project Update - 4 Aug 2015

Iraq

One year after fleeing violence, families in northern Iraq still live in uncertainty

“Many families are in need of humanitarian assistance and live in appalling conditions in unfinished buildings. Donors have started to turn away and people living outside of the camps continue to be neglected,” says MSF field coordinator Caroline Voûte. Between January and June 2015, MSF medical teams provided a total of 15,788 consultations to displaced people living in unfinished buildings around Zakho. Voices from the Field - 3 Aug 2015

South Sudan

Health risks increasing for people in Bentiu Protection of Civilian Camp

“The current situation is precarious, with new arrivals coming every day to the UN Protection of Civilians camp in Bentiu in search of shelter and protection. The upsurge of fighting in Unity state since April has forced many from their homes and an estimated 110,000 displaced people are now living here. That’s more than double the number of people here a few months ago and it feels more like a city than a camp," says Dr Ruby Siddiqui, MSF's epidemiologist. "There is a real risk of an outbreak of hepatitis E virus. Although there have been sporadic cases of hepatitis E virus detected since October 2014, over the last six weeks there appears to have been a consistent and significant increase in people with jaundice (signs of liver inflammation) who have later tested positive for hepatitis E by rapid diagnostic testing. Currently MSF is seeing a high hospitalisation ratio (37.0%) and a high case fatality ratio (4.0%)." Voices from the Field - 3 Aug 2015

Tanzania

130,000 refugees vaccinated against cholera in the overcrowded Nyarugusu camp

A cholera vaccination campaign to protect Burundian and Congolese refugees in the overflowing Nyarugusu camp in Tanzania has been completed this week. However, with people still living in very precarious conditions, there is a parallel urgent need to improve the sanitary situation in the camp. Press Release - 30 Jul 2015

Yemen

War Crimes and Severe Shortages

"We fear that the coalition-led offensives seeking to regain territory from the Houthis will ... inflict yet more violence on civilians caught between the warring parties and expose them to armed reprisals," says Dr Mégo Terzian, President of MSF France. "We also fear that those countries who support the coalition in its quest 'to liberate' Yemen ... will view such violence as acceptable collateral damage." Opinion - 29 Jul 2015

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