Testimonies
Afghanistan
Malnutrition soars in Herat as Afghanistan healthcare is at breaking point
The Afghan healthcare system has been fragile and plagued by major gaps for years now, and the suspension of international aid as a result of the recent political developments has further deteriorated the situation. In Herat, Médecins Sans Frontières is witnessing a worrying increase in malnutrition, says Mamman Mustapha, former Project Coordinator for in the province.
Mali
Pink October: what are the challenges of treating cancer in Mali?
Alice Authier, MSF’s oncology project coordinator in Mali, spells out the challenges of screening and treating cancer in the country. In 2018, MSF’s teams joined forces with Mali’s Ministry of Health to assist patients suffering from breast and cervical cancer.
Haiti
“After the earthquake, the situation was like nothing I had seen before”
On 14 August, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti. MSF has been present on the island for 30 years and was quickly deployed to care for the victims. Debra Donckel-Sances, Account Manager at MSF Luxembourg, did a detachment to Haiti for four weeks in the aftermath of the quake. In this interview, she explains the harsh living conditions in which the Haitian people and MSF staff are adjusting to the new normal.
Mediterranean Sea
Search and rescue: “They describe Libya as hell”
Many of the unaccompanied minors rescued by MSF search and rescue vessel Geo Barents from the Mediterranean escaped torture and exploitation.
Afghanistan
Medical care in Kunduz: Making it work
Fighting in the city of Kunduz in north-eastern Afghanistan ended on 8 August. The local community still requires trauma care. A medic in MSF’s Kunduz team describes their experience during the fighting and the work that is going on today.
Afghanistan
“Treating patients is our responsibility. There’s a lot of work on our shoulders
An Afghan MSF medic working in the city describes how we kept services running after the end of the fighting and the new challenges that they and other health services in the area are facing today.
Haiti
Haiti earthquake: challenges mount for the injured
Survivors like Widnika are just beginning the long process of recovery from the physical and psychological trauma they have suffered.
Afghanistan
Amid uncertainty, hospitals are still full in Afghanistan
After the rapid transfer of power in Afghanistan there has been a big shift in the health context. MSF continues to run medical activities in five provinces.
Yemen
Seeking healthcare in a city split by a frontline
Taiz, Yemen's third most populous city, has been the scene of a fierce civil war since the country's conflict began in 2015. Rocket fire and constant clashes have damaged the economy and health system to the detriment of the population, who are trapped on both sides of the front line.
Haiti
After the earthquake, a surgical team works nonstop
Dr Xavier Kernizan is an orthopedic surgeon who normally works at MSF's Tabarre hospital in Port-au-Prince. Since the August 14 earthquake, he has been working with an MSF surgical team in Jérémie, where 54 injuries were treated, 36 of which were operated on in one week.