Increased insecurity hampers medical assistance in Darfur – MSF

Aug 3, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical activities in Sudan’s troubled region are suspended on the ground because of the volatile security situation.

“Médecins Sans Frontières demands that provision of medical care be allowed and respected in the conflict in Darfur. Many MSF activities are currently suspended, leaving thousands of patients untreated everyday” said MSF in a press statement.

MSF has been attacked in the past weeks in several locations in all regions of Darfur. Amongst the latest incidents: July 14th, armed men robbed our compound and stole a car in Serif Umra; July 16th, an ambulance was shot at on the road between el Geneina and Morney, the driver was beaten; July 18th another MSF vehicle was taken out of a medical facility in Shangil Tobaya; and on July 20th, a team was robbed and beaten on the road between Golo and Niertiti.

Security incidents have led to the evacuation of MSF medical teams in Serif Umra and 2 projects in the Jebel Marra, as well as the interruption of mobile clinics, and the limitation in the referral of emergency cases to surgical facilities in other areas. “This reduction of activity has immediate and serious consequences for the population”.

MSF provides medical consultations, hospitalisations including surgery, referral of emergencies and nutritional programs. MSF services are intended for the whole population of Darfur, victim of the ongoing conflict.

MSF , an independent, neutral and impartial organisation, is present in Darfur since 2003. MSF currently has over 2000 staff working in 17 locations in Darfur.

(ST)