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MSF working again in Bunia

Geneva/Bunia - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has resumed working in the town of Bunia, in northeastern DRC. MSF is now setting up a clinic with a surgical facility and is treating patients with war injuries. Before the clashes in the beginning of May, MSF was working in Bunia, supporting the surgical team in the local hospital, but had to pull out for security reason. MSF urges the warring parties to allow access to the vulnerable population in and around Bunia in order to be able to provide humanitarian asstistance.

MSF returned to Bunia on May 16, 2003, with a surgical team consisting of a head of mission, surgeon, medical doctor, nurse, logistician and an anaesthetist,. The situation in Bunia remains fragile; therefore, access to the civilians is very difficult and is only possible in very restricted, secured areas.

MSF urges the warring parties to allow access to the vulnerable population in and around Bunia in order to deliver humanitarian aid. For the time being, it is difficult to work at the hospital of Bunia, as the safety of the patients, the international and national staff is still not guaranteed. MSF was able to visit the hospital and referred five patients to a health structure in the centre of Bunia.

They suffered predominantly from machete- and gunshot-wounds and had to have operations immediately. MSF is supporting the health structure in town and has been operating on patients with war injuries. To be able to take on more patients, MSF has opened an additional clinic with the possibility to extend surgical activities.

It is set up in a former supermarket. Furthermore, MSF has provided water and sanitation facilities in the two camps in Bunia, where about 10,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) are living. In N'dalia, an area 120 kilometers south of Bunia , more than 10,000 people have already arrived, fleeing the intense fighting in Bunia.

They walked under the rain, for four or five days, and all they brought with them were the clothes they were wearing when they had to flee. MSF has been working in the area since December 2002 and has been providing medical assistance, as well as setting up emergency facilities such as latrines and shelter.

MSF is also bringing medical assistance to several thousand Congolese who have sought refuge in the Ntoroko area in Ouganda. MSF has been in DRC since 1981, and has been providing help in emergency interventions, vaccination campaigns, AIDS-programs and basic healthcare. Today, about 100 expatriates are working in eight provinces.