MSF worldwide work highlight (25/1 – 10/2/2013)

Afghanistan
On 26 January, a bomb blasted in the northern Kunduz province, MSF received 22 patients in its surgical hospital. Apart from Kunduz, MSF also works in Helmand and Khost provinces.

The Democratic Republic of Congo
From 26 December 2012 to 19 January 2013, MSF teams vaccinated 65,082 children, aged 6 months to 15 years, against measles in the region of Bunyakiri in South Kivu.

As tensions increase between government forces and Mai-Mai militias in the Kantanga province, MSF calls on all parties to avoid harming civilians who have fled into the surrounding bush in their thousands.

Mali
A month after military operations began in northern Mali, MSF continues to work in the areas of Mopti, Gao, Ansango, Konna, Douentza and Timbuktu, providing life-saving treatment and emergency surgery to patients. MSF also provides care to Malian refugees in the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger.

Myanmar
Eight months since deadly communal clashes first broke out in Rakhine state, tens of thousands of people are still unable to access urgently needed medical care. MSF calls on government authorities and community leaders to ensure that all people of Rakhine can live without fear of violence, abuse and harassment, and that humanitarian organisations can assist those most in need.


Pakistan
Following a bomb blast on 2 February in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 55 injured patients have been treated by MSF and Ministry of Health staff in the Tehsil Headquarter hospital.

Across Pakistan, there has been an increase in the numbers of recorded measles cases over the past two months. MSF teams in eastern Balochistan scale up activities to cope with the increasing number of measles patients.


Southern Africa
Heavy rains in the eastern part of Southern Africa lead to flooding in the area of the Limpopo River. MSF provided emergency assistance to the people affected in Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

South Sudan
A hepatitis E outbreak escalates across four refugee camps in Maban County. As the main healthcare provider of more than 110,000 Sudanese refugees, MSF starts emergency project to treat the hepatitis E patients.


Syria
On 30 January, a Donors’ Conference for Syria was held in Kuwait City. MSF criticized aid imbalance and called on the donors to support cross-border humanitarian operations to reach opposition-held areas, which receive only a tiny share of international aid.

MSF released a survey on 7 February revealed that Syrians who have fled violent conflict at home to seek safety in Lebanon do not receive anywhere near adequate levels of humanitarian assistance and are living in extremely precarious conditions.

In view of the growing insecurity in the Aleppo region, MSF urges all parties to the conflict to respect patients, medical staff and health facilities.