7471 Results

Mediterranean migration

Latest tragedy highlights urgent need for increased rescue capacity

The latest tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea, in which hundreds of people drowned after a boat carrying up around 600 people capsized, underscores the severe lack of adequate search and rescue operations in the area, says Médécins Sans Frontières (MSF). Press Release - 5 Aug 2015

MSF Rebooting Public Health System in Liberia

Haemorrhagic fevers

MSF welcomes news that Liberia is Ebola-free while urging continued vigilance

Medical organisation warns that outbreak is not over yet and cross-border surveillance must continue Press Release - 5 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

Democratic Republic of Congo

MSF has vaccinated over 287,000 children against measles in four provinces

“This is the most serious epidemic Katanga has seen since 2011. We are adapting our current activities, and drawing on our experience from 2011. In one year, we have vaccinated almost 1.5 million children and treated more than 50,000 cases in 31 of the 68 health zones in Katanga Province,” explains Jean-Guy Vataux, MSF Head of Mission in DRC. “But people have difficulty accessing treatment, and it is also likely that cases are under-reported, so the current epidemics may well be more serious than they appear. It is important to act as quickly as possible, so that we don’t end up in the same situation as in 2011, or an even more serious one.” Project Update - 3 Aug 2015

Yemen

The Steady Bleed: MSF Briefs on the Collapse of Healthcare in War-torn Yemen

Report on the effect war and lack of access to healthcare is having on Yemeni civilians. Report - 1 Aug 2015

Guinea-Bissau

28,500 children vaccinated against measles

More than 28,500 children between six months and five years old have been vaccinated against measles by the country’s Ministry of Health and MSF. Project Update - 31 Jul 2015

Haemorrhagic fevers

Getting closer to an Ebola vaccine

"The current data basically tells us that the vaccine works to protect people against Ebola. Even if the sample size is quite small and more research and analysis is needed, the enormity of the public health emergency should lead us to continue using this vaccine right now to protect those who might get exposed to the disease: contacts of infected patients and frontline workers," says Bertrand Draguez, MSF Medical Director. " But it is also of crucial importance to keep working on all the pillars of an Ebola response including contact tracing, health promotion and isolation of infected patients." Voices from the Field - 31 Jul 2015

Yemen

Gallery: Devastation in Yemen – Sa'ada, Amran, Sana'a, June 2015

Scenes from the conflict in Yemen, including the MSF-supported Ministry of Health hospital in Sa'ada City, damage from the aerial bombing campaign in Sana'a, and refugees in Amran. Photo Story - 31 Jul 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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