The MSF team in Kandahar restarted the activities in the Zhare Dasht camp last Saturday, October 23, where activities were suspended over two weeks ago. Some 10,000 displaced families are living in the camp, which is located in a remote stretch of desert near Kandahar. More than 200 people visit the MSF clinics every day. The suspension of MSF activities followed a serious security incident near the camp, in which four armed men threatened to execute six people who were working with a de-mining agency.

The de-miners managed to escape unharmed except for one, who was shot in the leg. After this very serious incident, MSF - with support from the elders in the camp - demanded that the Governor of Kandahar bring an improvement in the security on the dirt road to the camp. Increased security measures have been put in place and the team has restarted its work in the camp health posts.

"The cooperation with the camp elders and the speedy resolution to the problem can been seen as a very positive step in our relations with the local population," said interim Head of Mission Nigel Jenkins. "At the moment, the security situation in and around Zhare Dasht remains acceptable, but still needs to be monitored very closely".