These are not just photographs. The images retracing a year of the humanitarian commitment of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) enshrine more. They have the capacity of describing the world we live in – made of wars, famines, oppressions, natural disasters, epidemics – from a particular perspective, the front line of their humanitarian commitment.
The war in Syria, Chiad and South Sudan, the rescuing missions in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the night of 2 October, when an aerial bombing destroyed an association’s hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz, killing 22 people. This is the daily life of those who chose to dedicate their lives to helping others.
MSF’s facts and figures
Médecins Sans Frontières is currently active in dozens of countries all over the world. In 2014 alone, the organisation was operational in 63 states with 384 projects. The medical personnel carried out more than 8 million examinations, gave birth to 194,000 children, treated over 2 million people suffering from malaria and operated over 81,000 patients.
Most of this effort was concentrated in Africa, where MSF carried out 60% of its operations. 26% concerned Asia and the Middle East, 5% Latin America, while 4% Europe. Almost all budget available (precisely, four fifth) was donated by 5.7 million donors, which also represent a guarantee for the independence of MSF.
In 2015, the NGO dedicated its efforts to the Ebola emergency that particularly hit Western Africa, the Syrian conflict, and the unprecedented migration flows that reached the European Union borders. What made MSF’s commitment even riskier were the bombings in war-torn areas, which didn’t even spare the humanitarian organisation’s structures. On 26 October, MSF staff denounced that aircrafts of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia dropped bombs on a hospital in the province of Saada, Yemen. On 2 December, a mobile clinic has been hit.
Earlier this year,bombs dropped on the hospital of Shiara killed 6 people and injured 7. On 21 January, an ambulance was hit by missiles, killing the driver. Yet, all this didn’t stop the doctors, the paramedic personnel, the volunteers. They keep on with their commitment, risking their lives for a fairer world.
The European Parliament has voted in favour of the European Citizens’ Initiative My Voice, My Choice, calling for safe and accessible abortion across Europe. The next step now lies with the European Commission, which is expected to develop concrete measures.
Montevideo’s Senate has passed a new law allowing ‘death with dignity’ (but not assisted suicide), with the procedure permitted even just a few days after the request.
Sierra Leone is an Ebola-free zone. The World Health Organisation (WHO) made the announcement on the 7th of November, 42 days since the last person was tested positive for the disease. The Sierra Leone based Social Mobilisation Action Consortium (SMAC), which works to fight Ebola through community engagement, celebrated the news by posting a video that
As per tradition after 12 years India held Mahakumbh, the world’s largest spiritual congregation that has been attracting pilgrims from across the globe.
Workers in tea gardens of West Bengal, India, that produces Ctc tea for domestic consumption complain that they have been devoid of basic facilities while political parties make hollow promises during every elections which are never fulfilled.
India is in the middle of the elections, but sadly none of the politicians have uttered a word on man-animal conflict that has been devouring several lives every year.
Manipur, a state in north-east India, is still reeling under the tremors of violence that broke out last year devouring lives and paralyzing the economy.