No Way In: The biggest refugee camp in the world is full

The three camps – Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo – known collectively as the ‘largest refugee camp in the world’ – were established 20 years ago to house up to 90,000 people escaping violence and civil war in Somalia. With no end to the conflict in sight, there are now more than 350,000 people crowded into the camps’ perimeters, while the number of new arrivals is surging. Report - 10 Jun 2011

Côte d'Ivoire

Fear persists even after violence subsides in Ivory Coast

“In Ivory Coast, terrified people in the bush must make the cruel choice to travel to villages where they don’t feel safe, in search of food or medicine. It’s crucial that emergency aid comes closer to where people have chosen to seek safety." - said Xavier Simon, MSF Country Representative in Ivory Coast. Project Update - 9 Jun 2011

Liberia

Liberia testimonies - Man, 40, New Yourpea transit camp

In the bush, there was no medicine, so we had to treat the children with traditional medicine for their gunshot wounds. Only weeks later did we make it Liberia, where MSF took them to the hospital. Project Update - 8 Jun 2011

Tunisia

Refugees fleeing Libya have no safe place to go

“Over the last days, we have seen a progressive escalation of violence, with ongoing incidents between groups of refugees of different nationalities,” said Mike Bates, MSF’s head of mission. “They are stuck in the camp – which was built as a temporary and transitional area – for an indefinite duration of stay. Most feel they are in a deadlock situation, with no future in sight.” Project Update - 26 May 2011

Côte d'Ivoire

In the western part of Ivory Coast, people are still afraid

The normal pace of life has returned in most of the towns in the region, but deserted villages and burned-out homes show evidence of what happened in this area, and many fear that violence could start anew. “People are still afraid," says a manager at the Duekoué camp. Voices from the Field - 23 May 2011

Colombia

Treating vulnerable populations in Buenaventura

The port city of Buenaventura is the primary place of refuge for populations displaced by the armed conflict on the Pacific coast. Precarious living conditions and the privatization of the health care system have created significant obstacles to obtaining access to medical care. In June, 2008, MSF opened a primary health care center, which conducted more than 22,500 patient visits in 2010. Project Update - 20 May 2011

Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

Open letter concerning civilians fleeing Libya for Europe

Member States of the European Union, and especially those directly involved in the conflict, must now turn words into actions regarding the protection of civilians in Libya. Their non-refoulement, decent reception conditions for all and access to asylum procedures for those who request it must be guaranteed. The European Union and all its Member States are responsible for the fate of these victims of war and for ensuring that their rights are respected. Project Update - 19 May 2011

Italy

Seeking Refuge, Finding Suffering

The MSF briefing paper ”Seeking Refuge, Finding Suffering” documents the unacceptable conditions that are currently facing migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees in Italy. Report - 3 May 2011

Italy

Italy must drastically improve conditions facing refugees, asylum seekers and migrants fleeing North Africa, including Libya

When 12 boats carrying 2,665 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants landed on Italian shores, a further 715 people were rescued from another off-shore boat. Once again, MSF calls on Italian authorities to drastically improve reception conditions for new arrivals, particularly for the most vulnerable - women, children, unaccompanied minors and victims of violence. Press Release - 3 May 2011

Libya

MSF carries out second boat evacuation from Misrata, Libya, with 64 war-wounded onboard

“With the latest heavy bombardments in Mistrata, the situation is worsening as hospitals have to discharge patients before their treatment is completed in order to treat the new wounded from fighting. Many injured cannot even access medical facilities without further risking their life,” said Dr. Morten Rostrup, an MSF doctor who was on the boat. Press Release - 16 Apr 2011

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

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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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