www.msf.org.au: Latest News

DRC: Armed Congolese soldiers enter Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Hauts Plateaux, South Kivu, and remove wounded patients

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:47:00 +1100

Médecins Sans Frontières demands that all parties to the conflict respect medical structures.

Australian nurse Victoria Mowat writes from South Sudan

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:40:00 +1100

Victoria Mowat, a nurse from Brisbane, has just returned from working with Médecins Sans Frontières in southern Sudan. As supervisor of the therapeutic feeding centre, Victoria's focus was on providing care for malnourished patients. Having previously worked in Ethiopia, this was Victoria’s second placement with Médecins Sans Frontières.

Earthquake in Chile: Providing psychological support, workshops, and training to help the population overcome fear

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:38:00 +1100

The numerous tremors that followed the February 27 earthquake in Chile have added new levels of stress to an already shaken population. Médecins Sans Frontières has therefore made mental health care a priority in its response to the disaster. Simultaneously, as the nights grow colder and the chance of rainfall increases, Médecins Sans Frontières is speeding up its distribution of plastic sheeting and blankets for people whose homes were damaged and who are now often camping outdoors.

Earthquake in Chile: “Houses were literally swallowed by the tide”

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:57:00 +1100

Médecins Sans Frontières teams provide assistance to a traumatised population further affected by powerful aftershocks.

Haiti: Two month post earthquake update

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:24:00 +1100

March 12, 2010. Two months after the January 12 earthquake, medical needs remain immense in Haiti and living conditions are extremely precarious. Although the phase of urgent life-saving medical care has passed, there continues a critical emergency context, in which thousands of people need post-operative care, rehabilitative care and physiotherapy, as well as psychological counseling. The extremely difficult living conditions put stress on people who live in camps or who live in tents throughout the city and its surrounding areas. The rainy season has begun, adding to the horrific living conditions of many who still don’t have proper access to sanitation facilities, and augmenting their chances of contracting malaria. There is also insecurity in camps due to poor lighting facilities or poor security management, indicated partly by an increase in sexual violence cases.

DRC: Thousands of displaced civilians trapped by conflict, wounded unable to reach hospitals in Hauts Plateaux, South Kivu

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:03:00 +1100

Médecins Sans Frontières calls on all armed groups to respect the safety of civilians and allow them access to healthcare.

Papua New Guinea: Médecins Sans Frontières completes emergency cholera intervention

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:07:00 +1100

March 8, 2010. Médecins Sans Frontières has completed a seven month long emergency cholera intervention in Papua New Guinea.

Afghanistan: A return to humanitarian action

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:50:00 +1100

In late 2008, refugees from Farah province, Afghanistan, told Médecins Sans Frontières aid workers in Iran about the horrific levels of violence they faced inside their country. Some even said that the violence that summer was worse than at any time during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s. One year later, the UN reported that 2009 was the deadliest year for Afghan civilians since the current war began in November 2001.

NATO Speech – Rheindalen, Germany. 8 December 2009.

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:27:00 +1100

Christophe Fournier, International President of Médecins Sans Frontières, delivered a speech to a Conference in Rheindahlen 7-8 December 2009 organised by NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). ARRC led NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan from May 2006 to February 2007 and has also been involved in IFOR and KFOR operations in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo as well as in operations in Iraq. The stated purpose of the conference - which beside NATO and the UK Armed Forces brought together representatives from the diplomatic world, the UN and NGOs, the media, academia and the EU - was to examine best working practices on the integration of civilian and military efforts to achieve Unity of Purpose in Hybrid Operations.

NATO Statement Endangers Patients in Afghanistan

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:23:00 +1100

International medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières, strongly objects to a recent statement made by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in which he implies that NGOs should be the “soft power” component to a military strategy.