East Timorese take charge

Each day, hundreds of refugees still return from West Timor many needing medical attention for malaria, diarrhea, chest infections and other ailments. They will continue to receive assistance upon arrival, but now it will be in a new site with a team of a Timorese doctor and nurses. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) brought in international emergency medical teams to start consulting as soon as security allowed in September. Project Update - 23 Dec 1999

Sierra Leone

MSF workers released in Sierra Leone

The two members of MSF who had been detained in the district of Kailahun, Sierra Leone, have been released. Project Update - 16 Dec 1999

Humanitarian challenges

MSF 'Top Ten' under-reported humanitarian stories of 1999

MSF issues the "Top Ten" list of the year's most under-reported humanitarian stories. This second annual listing emphasizes forgotten wars in Angola, Burundi and Sri Lanka. Project Update - 15 Dec 1999

Timor-Leste

Restricted access to camps and slow returns

The number of returnees to East Timor is still considered to be low, according to OCHA. So far, close to 115,000 people have returned through both organised and spontaneous methods. Figures released by the Indonesian Government indicate there are another 140,000 internal refugees within West Timor and other parts of Indonesia. Project Update - 10 Dec 1999

South Sudan

Fight against deadly sleeping sickness in southern Sudan

Project Update - 7 Dec 1999

Mongolia

AIDS prevention in Mongolia

After the break-up of the Soviet Union the transition process to a new social and economic order in the successor states, was accompanied by severe economic and social hardship. Nowadays, vulnerable groups are still left without social or medical assistance. In addition, epidemics in combination with a deteriorating health-care system, have made infectious diseases another focus of attention. The break-up of the Soviet Union also influenced the neighbouring countries. Project Update - 1 Dec 1999

India

MSF remains active along coastal region

Over one million homes have been destroyed by one of the worst cyclones in history when the Orissa province, in India, was struck on October 29. Yearly harvests have been washed away and hundreds of thousands of cattle have died during the cyclone or in the massive floods afterwards. The complete tally for the destruction caused by the cyclone has not been calculated, but the death toll has now exceeded 10,000 people. Project Update - 22 Nov 1999

Vietnam

Floods in Vietnam decimate

Vietnam has been suffering the effects of the worst rainstorm to hit the country in forty years. Storm Number 9, better known as Eve, began with torrential rainstorms on October 18, and continued without respite, until November 4. On November 12, here was been an international appeal for assistance to overcome drastic food shortages and repair and replace housing and infrastructures in the devastated central provinces. Project Update - 16 Nov 1999

Vietnam

MSF providing medical kits to 'first-health' facilities

Since MSF has been involved with floods in Vietnam in the past, there has been a network of connections already established that has allowed for a faster movement in this emergency. In addition, local administrations and governments have raised flooding on their emergency priorities and the response to developing situations is faster. Project Update - 12 Nov 1999

Timor-Leste

Up to 2,000 returnees per day

There has been an increase in returnees to East Timor with flights, boats and now land convoys bringing them to their homeland. Estimations are that up to 2,000 people per day are returning. Transit camps are being installed en route by the UNHCR; Security is being addressed by Interfet, CIVPOL and the UNHCR. Project Update - 9 Nov 1999

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Independent medical humanitarian assistance

We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence and impartiality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

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