MSF: Uptick in South Sudan violence disrupts aid delivery

MSF: Uptick in South Sudan violence disrupts aid delivery

The Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) NGO says it has suspended medical operations in the Pibor community of eastern South Sudan following a recent flare-up in communal violence. Fighting between armed Bor Dinka and Murle groups has escalated over the past 10 days with thousands of people fleeing their…

Africans make progress on HIV, but the success is uneven

Africans make progress on HIV, but the success is uneven

Africa has made some great strides in reducing HIV infection rates and their impacts, but the trends are uneven on the continent and across the globe. That’s worrying as progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS has slowed, according to an annual report from UNAIDS. “We urgently need increased political leadership…

Conflict, displacement in Ituri threaten DRC Ebola response

Conflict, displacement in Ituri threaten DRC Ebola response

Renewed violence in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is forcing mass displacement from a region where authorities are struggling to contain the Ebola outbreak. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who visited the area recently, estimated that some 400,000 persons are displaced throughout Ituri Province.  The International Organization…

MSF: Ebola victims are patients, not a biothreat

The Doctors Without Borders medical NGO says the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo is failing, because of increasing community mistrust but also because of a militarized stance toward communities and their patients. “Right now we are painting the Ebola epidemic as a security emergency,” said Dr. Joanne…

MSF warns of increasing threat on Mali-Niger border

Humanitarian aid workers say the threat of violence because of armed groups along Mali’s border with Niger has sent more than 8,000 people into the village of Kongokiré in the latter’s Tillabéry region. “Many of the displaced in Kongokiré have already been forced to flee several times,” said Innocent Kunywana,…

Second attack in a week destroys Ebola treatment center

For the second time in a week, an Ebola treatment facility in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was attacked  – this time by armed men who overran a center in Butembo jointly operated by the Ministry of Health and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). There were 40 patients in the facility…

Doctors Without Borders responds to BBC report on sexual misconduct

The global NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has issued a statement saying it has been unable to confirm allegations that its logistics staff members working in Africa were commonly engaged in sexual misconduct, but takes the allegations seriously. The response Thursday followed a BBC report featuring interviews with former employees…

Migrant ship Aquarius en route to Spain

Migrants aboard a Mediterranean Sea rescue ship denied entry to Italian ports set sail for Spain at 9 p.m. local time Tuesday night, according to the Sos Méditerranée NGO that operates the ship in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Their departure alongside two Italian military vessels ended a two-day…