Fighting forces MSF to suspend activities in Hawa Abdi clinic, Somalia
May 06, 2010
On 5 May 2010 the medical aid organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was forced to temporarily suspend its activities in Hawa Abdi clinic, after a security incident not related to MSF’s activities degenerated into a major clash. The clinic was taken over by armed men and some Somali staff members were temporarily retained in the facility.
MSF had to evacuate its patients and refer them to other health structures. The organisation is extremely concerned about their well being and is committed to restarting medical activities in Hawa Abdi as soon as the security situation allows.
MSF is still in the process of clarifying the exact circumstances surrounding yesterday’s incident and is grateful to local authorities in the region for assisting in this effort.
MSF wants to appeal, once again, to the different parties in Somalia, to respect medical facilities and the medical staff working in them.
In Hawa Abdi, MSF runs an outpatient department, paediatric inpatient department, cholera and diarrhoea treatment centre, nutrition programme, water trucking and distribution of blankets and other non-food items. In Afgooye MSF supports an outpatient department, an ambulatory feeding programme and the activities of the hospital by providing drugs and medical materials, as well as paying staff incentives.
MSF has worked in Somalia continuously since 1991 and currently provides medical services in eight regions: Banadir, Bay, Hiraan, Galgaduud, Lower Juba, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle and Mudug.
MSF had to evacuate its patients and refer them to other health structures. The organisation is extremely concerned about their well being and is committed to restarting medical activities in Hawa Abdi as soon as the security situation allows.
MSF is still in the process of clarifying the exact circumstances surrounding yesterday’s incident and is grateful to local authorities in the region for assisting in this effort.
MSF wants to appeal, once again, to the different parties in Somalia, to respect medical facilities and the medical staff working in them.
In Hawa Abdi, MSF runs an outpatient department, paediatric inpatient department, cholera and diarrhoea treatment centre, nutrition programme, water trucking and distribution of blankets and other non-food items. In Afgooye MSF supports an outpatient department, an ambulatory feeding programme and the activities of the hospital by providing drugs and medical materials, as well as paying staff incentives.
MSF has worked in Somalia continuously since 1991 and currently provides medical services in eight regions: Banadir, Bay, Hiraan, Galgaduud, Lower Juba, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle and Mudug.
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