Bombing & fighting threaten provision of medical care & humanitarian aid, MSF warns

n upsurge in fighting and bombing over the past week in northern Syria’s Azaz district, near the Turkish border, is jeopardising medical activities in the few hospitals and health posts that are still functioning, says international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), warning that it may be forced to close its own hospital in the Aleppo province. Press Release - 7 Dec 2015

Chad

Deadly attack on Koulfa Island

A triple suicide attack that took place on the island of Koulfa in the Lake Chad area in Chad on Saturday morning has reportedly killed 30 people and wounded up to 200. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams present in the area have immediately mobilised to provide support to the Chadian Ministry of Health. Project Update - 7 Dec 2015

Assistance at sea to refugee boats in distress

Mediterranean migration

MSF and Greenpeace launch life-saving operations in the Aegean Sea

A joint operation to rescue people risking their lives on the dangerous sea crossing between Turkey and Greece has been launched by international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and environmental organisation Greenpeace. Press Release - 3 Dec 2015

Baby Nubia Is Released From MSF Clinic in Conakry

Haemorrhagic fevers

Nubia, the first newborn to survive Ebola

Guinea's last Ebola case, Nubia, a baby girl, left the Nongo Ebola Treatment Clinic in Conakry on Saturday 28th November 2015. Nubia is a month old baby , whose mother died after giving birth on October 27th. Guinea will become officially Ebola-free after 42 days if no new cases are reported following the recovery of baby Nubia — thought to be the first baby to survive after being born to an infected mother. Photo Story - 3 Dec 2015

Yemen

Nine wounded in Saudi-led coalition airstrike on MSF clinic in Taiz

On 2 December, three air strikes targeted a park in Taiz city’s Al Houban district, 2 km from MSF’s clinic. The MSF team immediately evacuated the clinic and informed the Saudi-led coalition that their jet planes were mounting an attack nearby. The clinic itself came under attack. The wounded, two of them with critical injuries, were transferred to Al Qaidah and Al Resalah hospitals. MSF supports both hospitals in treating war-wounded patients. Press Release - 3 Dec 2015

Kyrgyzstan - Decentralized care for TB patients

Tuberculosis

New survey shows outdated policies and practices risk further spread of drug-resistant TB

Urgent phase-out needed for outdated policies of mandatory hospitalisation, re-treatment regimens that contribute to drug resistance, and sub-optimal diagnosis Report - 2 Dec 2015

HIV program in Ndhiwa sub-county, Homa Bay

Kenya

To curb the HIV epidemic, “clear objectives and patience are the keys”

In June 2014, MSF started a pilot project in Ndhiwa, a sub-county in western Kenya, aiming to curb the HIV epidemic there: one adult in four is HIV-positive and 2 in 100 get infected every year. William Hennequin, MSF representative in Kenya, presents some of the project’s achievements and challenges. Voices from the Field - 2 Dec 2015

MSF Speaking Out

MSF and the war in the former Yugoslavia 1991-2003 (PDF, 7.5 MB)

On 14 December 1995, the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords ended the separatist war in former Yugoslavia and created the State of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Twenty years on, MSF reveals how the organization spoke out about a conflict marked by ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, targeted assaults of humanitarian organizations and individuals, and the unfulfilled promises by the International Community.

MSF claimed that mass distributions of aid were simply a ‘humanitarian alibi’ of the international community that lacked the will to take political and military measures to end the conflict. Some MSF leaders even called for an armed intervention against the Bosnian-Serb artillery bombing Sarajevo.

In December 1992, MSF published a report describing the Bosnian Serb policy of ethnic cleansing. They denounced the Bosnian Serbs for hindering supplies to Srebrenica and Gorazde Muslim besieged enclaves. They raised awareness and denounced the lack of protection of the population when the enclaves came under attack in 1994 and 1995 despite being declared safe zones by the UN.

In August 1995, MSF denounced a lack of access to the Serb refugees and from 2000, MSF advocated for parliamentary commissions to be set up to investigate the military and political responsibilities of the States involved in the Srebrenica crisis.

This Speaking Out Case Study explores the variety of questions and dilemmas MSF faced, Among them: to what extent should MSF risk the lives of its staff in order to operate in conflict zones? Should MSF condemn obstacles set up to limit the access to the population if it meant no longer having any access at all? Should MSF denounce the fact that humanitarian aid was presented by the international political leaders as the only solution to the conflict and call for military force, an action that would lead to loss of human life? https://www.msf.org/sites/msf.org/files/2019-04/MSF%20Speaking%20Out%20Yugoslavia%201991-2003.pdf - 1 Dec 2015

Yemen

MSF provides help to people affected by the cyclones in the province of Hadramaut

Two cyclones in one week hit the southeast coast of Yemen early November and did major damage. Hundreds of families have lost their homes in the provinces of Hadramaut. In Moukalla, the main city of the governorate, small houses have not withstood the tornado, torrents of water spilled into the city and destroyed bridges and infrastructures. Project Update - 1 Dec 2015

Syria

Double-tap bombing on MSF-supported hospital – hospital partially destroyed – patients under treatment died in transit

A double-tap barrel bombing on Saturday 28 November on an MSF supported hospital in a besieged zone in northern Homs governorate, Syria, has caused 7 deaths, the partial destruction of the hospital and an influx of 47 wounded patients needing to be transferred to nearby field hospitals, some of whom died en route. Project Update - 1 Dec 2015

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Independent medical humanitarian assistance

We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence and impartiality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

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