Fighting the 10/90 gap

Less than 10% of the worldwide expenditure on health research and development is devoted to the major health problems of 90% of the population. The MSF initiative targets the most neglected diseases; how scientists can help. Project Update - 13 May 2002

Access to medicines

MSF recommendations to the 55th meeting of the WHA

From May 13-18, the World Health Assembly (WHA) is meeting to debate and set policy for the WHO. MSF provides the following recommendations regarding access to essential medicines. Project Update - 13 May 2002

Angola

Angola 'grey zones' emergency - a dying population

"We have seen hardly any little children under five. Lots of them had already died," said Mercedes Tata, MSF's medical emergency coordinator in Chipindo. "A whole hill has been covered with fresh graves since September" - Chipindo, April 2002 Project Update - 7 May 2002

HIV/AIDS

Patents, prices and patients: the example of HIV/AIDS

Price is not the only reason that people do not get the medicines they need, but it is a major barrier. As MSF and other non-governmental organizations have been pointing out for over two years, the high cost of medicines is often linked to patents. Project Update - 1 May 2002

Access to medicines

MSF team blocked from providing care for over five hours

The prolonged delays by Israeli forces to allow access to patients has become a constant for MSF teams and is a violation of the humanitarian right to access patients freely. Project Update - 9 Apr 2002

Bosnia-Herzegovina

The lesson of Srebrenica: take protection of local populations seriously

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warns the Netherlands and the international community against drawing the wrong conclusions from the failure of 'Dutchbat' in Srebrenica. Press Release - 9 Apr 2002

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Draw the right conclusions from Srebrenica

The immediate lessons learned by the Netherlands in Srebrenica are clearly reflected in its most important mission since Srebrenica, the UNMEE mission in Ethiopia/Eritrea. The Netherlands is now taking part in 'low-risk' peace missions whereby its own safety comes first. But if the local population cannot count on UN troops for protection, who can they count on? Opinion - 9 Apr 2002

Russia

Chechnya: MSF presentation to 58th Human Rights Commission

MSF presentation by Loick Barriquand before the 58th Session of the Commission of Human Rights. Geneva, April 2, 2002. Speech - 2 Apr 2002

Rohingya refugee crisis

Ten Years for the Rohingya Refugees: Past, present and future

The year 2002 marks the 10th anniversary of the flight of the Rohingya refugees from Rakhine State,
Myanmar to Bangladesh. Discrimination, violence and forced labour practices by the Myanmar
authorities triggered an exodus of more than 250,000 Rohingya Muslims between 1991 and 1992. Over
the years, approximately 232,000 refugees have been repatriated to Myanmar under the supervision of the
UNHCR, and 21,600 remain in two camps. Report - 1 Apr 2002

Afghanistan

MSF activity at the Afghanistan earthquake

Following the earthquakes that struck the Nahrin town and region on March 25 and 26, an MSF team of six medical staff were active in the area immediately. In two days over 200 people were cared for by the organisation and, with the medical injuries treated, focus is moving towards rehabilitation. Project Update - 1 Apr 2002

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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