In late March, a Médecins Sans Frontières team crossed the Turkish border into Syria in an effort...
• Wounded people and medical workers remain targeted and threatened, the international medical...
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The women were raped on the night of 1 January in Fizi town and surroundings in a coordinated attack. Médecins Sans Frontières medical teams treated 14 women at the hospital in Fizi on 3 January, and 19 the next day. In addition, two severely wounded people were transferred to Baraka Hospital, one with serious head injuries after being beaten with a rock, the other having been shot in the chest.
“Women had been restrained with ropes or beaten unconscious with the butt of a gun before being attacked, some in front of their children.” said Annemarie Loof, Médecins Sans Frontières Head of Mission in South Kivu. “Up to four armed men were involved at a time and homes and shops were looted.”
Médecins Sans Frontières provides specialised medical care to women and girls who have been raped that includes post-exposure prophylaxis, which protects against the HIV virus and other sexually transmitted infections. Many women are afraid to seek treatment because of fear of being stigmatised by their families, or the risk of further harassment by armed groups.
“Médecins Sans Frontières is extremely concerned about the current situation in and around Fizi. People are fleeing the area fearing further violent attacks” said Loof.
In 2009 alone, Médecins Sans Frontières provided medical and psychosocial care for 5,600 rape victims in North and South Kivu.