MSF Hong Kong: Crossing Frontlines, Together

#trustworthy #fearlesstothetough #everynookandcranny

The efforts of every medical and non-medical field worker are the key for MSF’s relief responses . However, despite how professional our International Mobile Staff (IMS for short) are, they do need a trustworthy partner to travel into every nook and cranny to support people in remote areas – the Land Cruiser.

With an outstandingly high horsepower, this structurally burly but nimble four-wheel-drive has a spacious cabin. The Land Cruiser has led countless IMS through roads damaged by natural disasters to reach the survivors, ventured into remote villages, where people might not have seen a doctor for decades, to provide care and carry out health promotions. Then it’s transported loads of ready-to-use therapeutic food, medicine, and vaccines for people in need. The vehicle can be used for evacuating patients from dangerous situations to transfer them to other health facilities, or it can turn into a basic mobile clinic by erecting canvas tents at the back.

 
In fact, to the IMS, the importance of the Land Cruiser is far more than its mechanical functionalities. It plays a symbolic role in our relief projects and brings a sense of belonging within the MSF family. Even when it comes to rugged and testing terrains and trails, the IMS can always rely on the Land Cruiser to move forward and deliver lifesaving medical assistance. 

Basic information：4.72 x 1.77 x 1.955 meters. Maximum payload 800 kg.

 

A. Snorkel: Raised air intake when driving in dusty or sandy conditions can protect the engine by taking in cleaner air from an elevated position

 

B. Engine: Average fuel consumption: 12 litres/100 km

 

C. Full time 4-wheel-drive, for better control in extreme road conditions;  4 types of tyres for sand, mud, road and heavy-duty conditions

D. 5 doors, roof-rack on reinforced roof, with Front towing eye and Rear towing hook for pulling out vehicles that get stuck in holes or mud

 

E. 6+4 Seating design: 6 forward-facing seats (including the driver); 4 inward-facing jump seats at rear

F. Equipped with an AM radio system for wireless communications

 

G. 5-speed manual gearbox

Lucy, an electrical and mechanical engineer, was on an assignment in Liberia in 2013 as a logistician. She travelled with the Land Cruiser over 8 hours from the capital to remote border areas for the outreach projects. She witnessed the high-horsepower Land Cruiser navigating mountain roads and towing vehicles which got trapped deep in the mud. Sometimes they were the one that got stuck...

 

As for maintenance, Lucy explained that it was every driver's daily responsibility. Even minor issues, such as the water level for cleaning the windshield must be ensured for safety. She likes the mono AM-channeled radio the most, because the system can be used not only as a positioning navigator, but also a platform to chat with other staff. 

 

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Albert, who also has an engineering background, recalled his most unforgettable Land Cruiser experience, which happened during his assignment nine years ago in South Sudan. There was a woman in labour who came to the clinic right before the curfew at night. Albert and his team immediately took the pregnant woman to the main hospital in the Land Cruiser, and in the end, both the mother and the newborn baby were safe.

 

IMS always face extreme weather and road conditions during their assignments. Albert believes that many projects would become impossible without the Land Cruiser. While travelling with the vehicle during a rainstorm, they had to keep pushing through when the muddy water flooded over the driver’s seat. To Albert, the Land Cruiser exactly symbolized the spirit of MSF: burly but nimble. The vehicle that brings IMS to every single remote corner during assignments, can act as a mobile clinic too. And, Albert added, during an assignment in a deserted location, lying on the roof of the vehicle is the best way to enjoy the starry night.

It is possible for IMS to encounter some roads that are in such a bad condition that even the Land Cruiser can barely move. Wei-yee Teoh, who was an MSF logistic team leader in South Sudan, said that during the rainy season there, the roads were overwhelmed by flooding. It was so bad that a tractor had to follow behind to help pull the Land Cruiser when it got stuck.

However, since the tractor moved so slowly, more time was needed for assignments because of the increased traveling time. “During the rainy season in South Sudan, we do not have a normal paved road. In the dry, it takes an hour to travel from our base to Agok airstrip. But it takes 12 hours for us in the rainy season! So some missions had to be suspended.”

 

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Arop Chok Deng, who is the Head Driver in Abyei, South Sudan, said that the Land Cruiser is a great vehicle and important for their mission. There is no other vehicle (apart perhaps from a tractor) that can operate in South Sudan during the rainy season, he said, like the Land Cruiser.

As for the checkup, Arop said that he spends 10 to 15 minutes in the morning to make sure there is enough gasoline, engine oil, brake fluid, and coolant. The team would also arrange weekly checkups and workshops for the maintenance of the vehicle. Keeping your vital transport in top condition is a big part of the job.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Hong Kong) was established in 1994. For the past three decades, professionals from Hong Kong and beyond have crossed borders and pushed boundaries to work with MSF, reaching communities in need of medical assistance and saving lives often by travelling on MSF's 4WD vehicles to the front line. In fact, this city has always played an important role in global medical and humanitarian relief matters.

 

By taking advantage of this unique moment, MSF Hong Kong held the "Crossing Frontlines, Together" exhibition from November 8 to 15 in the Central Market, bringing a review of MSF Hong Kong’s 30 years of lifesaving journey by highlighting a replica MSF four-wheel drive offroad car – an important vehicle in pushing our relief work forward around the world.

 

Apart from taking selfies with the vehicle, both adults and children were amused by playing remote-controlled toy vehicles in the featured large-scale racing track, to experience the driving challenges that our IMS faced. 

 

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who came to the exhibition, and those who have supported our work over the years. Together and with all your support, we can cross more front lines and reach the heart of different humanitarian crises.

To commemorate 30 years of Médecins Sans Frontières in Hong Kong, we are excited to present a special MSF luggage tag, allowing you to travel the world with the spirit of helping others! Donate HKD 100 or more to our designated webpage and we will send you a special MSF luggage tag.*

 

Let’s cross the front lines, Together!

 

*While stocks last, on a first-come, first-served basis. The luggage tag will be mailed to your given address in about 10 working days. A donation receipt will be sent by email.

Have you ever considered that life is limitless, because we can continue to embody the beliefs we cherish and carry them forward into the future even after we pass?

 

“I hope to live happily and to bring joy to others.”

 

This simple yet profound belief and compassion have no expiry date; they can be passed on to the world of tomorrow.

 

Two years ago, Nathalie joined MSF's “Gift for Tomorrow” programme,  becoming a legacy donor. This decision allows her to support the values she holds dear and ensures that the organisation she trusts can continue saving lives for generations to come.

 

“People my age rarely think about death, but caring for my mother, who has cognitive impairment, over the past decade has made me reflect on it often.”

 

This experience has deeply impressed on Nathalie the unpredictability of life. She therefore wishes to prepare thoughtfully for her own “future” while she still has the chance.

 

“You can’t take anything with you when you go. I hope to give back to society what I have, to help those in need. In many countries, even basic necessities are lacking. Yet, there are healthcare workers willing to go to those underprivileged places to help those in distress, and I want to support them.”

 

You may not be on the front lines of emergency relief efforts, but through the “Gift for Tomorrow” programme, you can make a meaningful contribution to humanity even after passing, supporting others to carry on with the legacy created.

 

“Gift for Tomorrow” has shown Nathalie that life can indeed be limitless, with the enduring belief of helping people most in need—those suffering from natural disasters, conflict, war, and excluded from basic healthcare — wherever they are, it is the best gift for the future world.

Nathalie humorously notes that since participating in the “Gift for Tomorrow” programme, she has become more prudent with her finances as she wants to save more money to help more people in the future.

 

Join “Gift for Tomorrow” to Let Love Continue to Flow in the World
For many years, MSF has been providing humanitarian medical assistance to those caught in disasters, conflicts, and epidemics. Through a legacy gift, you can offer the most enduring warmth to the world and ensure swift response to unforeseen disasters and provide medical care, clean water, psychological support, and life-changing humanitarian aid to those in need.

 

If you wish to leave a “Gift for Tomorrow” to continue your beliefs, please contact us. Together, we can plan to save lives in the future.