MSF worldwide work highlight （30/3/2013-12/4/2013）

Central African Republic
MSF teams have been targeted and suffered many robberies and threats while MSF facilities were looted.  Teams in Batangafo and Kabo were evacuated due to insecurity, leaving the population without medical care. MSF calls on the new government of the country to restore order to cease threats and attacks against humanitarian workers and structures.

India (Access Campaign)
The Supreme Court in Delhi decided to uphold India’s Patents Act in response to the seven-year challenge by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis. The decision is a major victory for patients’ access to affordable medicines in developing countries, as pharmaceutical companies can no longer abuse the patent system by applying patents on modifications to existing drugs to ever extend monopolies in India.

Mali
Following deadly clashes in Timbuktu, Mali, on March 30-31, MSF teams treated 21 wounded people with two of whom died. MSF calls on all warring parties to respect civilian populations and to facilitate access to medical facilities.

Some 70,000 Malian refugees are now living in difficult situations in the middle of the Mauritanian desert. An MSF report entitled “Stranded in the desert” calls on aid organizations to renew efforts to meet refugees’ basic needs.

South Africa
MSF’s project in Johannesburg for Zimbabwean migrants closed at the end of March, as the access to healthcare for migrants has considerably improved since the project opened 5 years ago. MSF continues to provide HIV/TB care in other parts of the country.

Sudan
More than 10,000 refugees who fled violent clashes in Darfur States, Sudan, began to arrive southeastern Chad to join the 25,000 previously settled refugees. MSF is treating the wounded and trying to contain an outbreak of measles in a nearby area.

Syria
Every day up to 1,000 Syrians enter Iraq to flee the conflict. Domeez camp in Iraq is now overcrowded with more than 35,000 people. Newcomers are lack of shelter and need to share tents, mattress and food with other families. MSF has scaled up its activities in response to emergency in the camp.