April 16 - Taken by Iraqi authorities for nine days, an MSF volunteer details their detention
"There were about 175 to 200 prisoners with a single toilet and a faucet that only occasionally dribbled water. The food was revolting. We didn't have to deal with the terror of the bombing anymore but now we were afraid of getting sick... If I could, I would've set up an anti-cholera program!"
Francois Cals, Head of Mission in Baghdad, Iraq, describes the detention of him and two other MSF workes by Iraqi authorites.
April 16 - Hospitals in Baghdad suffering from looting and disorganisation
The danger to the general population is that the most vulnerable and the poor do not have access to the hospitals because they are not affiliated with the group in control.
April 15 - MSF starts new assessments in Iraq
MSF currently has 44 international volunteers based in Iraq and the surrounding countries - Iran, Syria, Jordan and Kuwait. Over the coming days, projects may begin to address the needs MSF encounters in their initial assessments.
April 11 - François Calas and Ibrahim Younis are free
Though weakened by nine days of detention, they are doing fine. They remain in Baghdad where they will reunite with their four other MSF colleagues.
April 9 - Humanitarian concerns in Iraq:
MSF testimony at the UN Security Council
In an address to the United Nations Security Council on April 9, MSF raised concerns about humanitarian action in Iraq: two MSF volunteers missing since April 2; increasing casualty figures in the hospitals; and that the highly visible "hearts and minds" strategy may fuel dangerous suspicions that all humanitarian activities, and international aid personnel, are identified to the US/UK coalition and working on its behalf.
April 7 - Baghdad: MSF calls on Iraqi authorities to do all they can to bring about the immediate release of two volunteers
The two missing volunteers are François Calas, the 43-year-old head of mission from France, and Ibrahim Younis, a 31-year-old logistician of Sudanese descent. Both men are highly experienced aid workers.
April 4 - MSF without news of two members of its team in Baghdad
MSF confirms being without news of two members of its team in Baghdad, Iraq, reported missing since Wednesday evening (April 2). The four other members of the team are safe.
MSF IN IRAQ - A 6-person team is in Baghdad and shall remain in the country. The team shall determine medical needs as the situation develops.
Humanitarian concerns
in the war in Iraq - MSF does not take a position for or against war. But as the military assault escalates in Iraq, MSF has several profound concerns.
BBC - April 12 Baghdad protests over looting
In a country in which only six non-governmental organisations were permitted to work before the war, two remain - Premiere Urgence and Medecins Sans Frontieres. "The needs are immense," said Morten Rostrup of MSF.
BBC April 9 - Viewpoint: 'Our concerns are the civilians'
The BBC World Service's World Today programme is speaking to a number of Nobel Peace Prize winners to gauge their views on the war in Iraq. Rafael Vilasanjuan is the International Secretary of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). MSF won the peace prize in 1999 for their humanitarian work in Kosovo, and have been in Iraq since before the war helping civilians.
The MSF statement is availble on video here
Washington Post, March 26
War in Iraq: Medical Aid Transcript of on-line chat with Nicolas de Torrente, Executive Director for MSF-USA
