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» Radio interview :: A continuing series
“Underreported” looks at the forces jeopardizing humanitarian efforts
in Afghanistan. Médecins Sans Frontières Director of Operations
in Afghanistan, Kenny Gluck, explains why Médecins Sans Frontières
decided to pull out ...
»
Listen to the interview here [The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC]
» Article :: The real reasons Medecins Sans
Frontieres left Afghanistan
After a Wall St Journal opinion piece criticising Médecins Sans Frontières'
decision to leave Afghanistan, Médecins Sans Frontières International
President Rowan Gillies responds...
» Read the full
article here
» Radio interview :: International
President, Dr Rowan Gilles discusses the current political climate for humanitarian
workers and our withdrawl from Afghanistan.
»
Listen to the interview here [FreshAir on NPR]
» Article :: Blame shifts over Afghan aid killings
The hit was professional. Two bullets through the windscreen, probably fired by
a gunman standing on the bonnet, had killed the Afghan driver and interpreter
in the vehicle's front seats. The three Medecins Sans Frontieres international
staff sitting in the back were shot at point-blank range...
» Read the full article in The Australian here
» Radio interview :: A one hour 'open line' discussion
with Vickie Hawkins, MSF former Head of Mission in Afghanistan, on The Connection
on National Public Radio (USA) detailing the issues surrounding Médecins
Sans Frontières decision to leave Afghanistan.
» Listen to the interview here [You will need the RealPlayer]
» Press Release :: After
24 years of independent aid to the Afghan people Médecins Sans Frontières
withdraws from Afghanistan following killing, threats and insecurity
» Press Release :: Medecins
Sans Frontieres condemns fatal attack on aid workers
» Press Release :: Medecins
Sans Frontieres shocked by death of 5 staff in Afghanistan
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In early June 2004, five Médecins Sans Frontières staff were
killed while travelling on the road between Khairkhana and Qala-I-Naw, Badghis
province in Afghanistan.
Hélène de Beir, Belgian national, Project
Coordinator
Pim Kwint, Dutch national, Logistician
Egil Tynaes, Norwegian national, Medical Doctor
Fasil Ahmad, Afghan national, Translator
Besmillah, Afghan national, Driver
 Hélène
de Beir (29) fought with passion for the rights of people worldwide. After
her studies in International Relations and Law in Washington, Bologna and Brussels
she specialised in humanitarian issues. She worked as Humanitarian Affairs Officer
for MSF-Holland in Ivory Coast and Iraq before becoming a Project Coordinator
in Badghis, Afghanistan in May 2004. Through her enormous commitment and desire
to act she became a driving force in a difficult project. Hélène's
positive personality and cheerfulness made her a much loved colleague. Behind
her youthful appearance was a strong woman who knew exactly what she wanted. Hélène
would have celebrated her 30th birthday on the 16th June. Her death has hit us
hard. Our thoughts are with her family and boyfriend.
 Egil
Tynaes (62) worked as a senior doctor at the Municipal Outdoor Clinic in Bergen,
Norway. During his periods of special leave he frequently used his medical experience
to help populations in need in other parts of the world. He worked for MSF-Switzerland
in 2002 in Baharak, Afghanistan and later went on to work for MSF-Holland in Badghis
in March 2004. Here he worked on a tuberculosis project and trained local medical
staff. Egil succeeded like nobody else in making real contact with the Afghan
patients. He became very close to the people and managed to gain their
confidence. His creative solutions and original ideas to improve the quality of
work will be missed dearly. But even more so his warm heart and sensitive nature.
Egil leaves behind his wife, three children and five grandchildren.
 Pim
Kwint (39) wanted to help people in need. He put his own IT-company on hold
in order to work for MSF-Holland. He brought a mountain of technical and IT experience
with him. Since June 2003 he worked as all-round logistician in Badghis, Afghanistan.
He wanted enormously to make a contribution and seemed to have found his calling.
Pim was the ideal person for the job in difficult circumstances, always willing
to go out of his way for other people and happy to get his hands dirty. He had
endless energy and a great sense of responsibility. Time after time he succeeded
in motivating the local staff and cheering up his colleagues and so became a indispensable
team member. Pim was expected home in two weeks time by his family, friends and
girlfriend. We are devastated by his death.
 Besmillah
worked as a driver for MSF-Holland in Badghis, Afghanistan since October 2003.
As an adept driver and mechanic, he was an important member of the local Afghan
staff. He gave great support to his foreign colleagues, not only as a source of
information and advice, but also because of his calm yet enthusiastic personality.
The work that MSF was doing in his country was very dear to him. He thought it
was very important for basic medical care to be available for the Afghan people
and covered the huge distances between the different projects untiringly on a
daily basis. We are shocked by his death. During the course of his employment
with MSF-Holland Besmillah became the proud father of a little girl.
 Fasil
Ahmad had only worked as translator for MSF in Badghis, Afghanistan for a
couple of weeks. After an extensive search, the team in Badghis was very pleased
to have found in Fasil a qualified Afghan translator. It is tragic that he had
to pay for his contribution with his life. Our compassion goes to his family and
friends.
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