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Greece

Testimonies from refugees and staff in Lesbos

Refugee testimonies and MSF emergency team member testimony, Lesbos, Greece. "Now, for the first time, I feel like I am really human. This is the first time that someone has taken care of me," says Mohamed, a Syrian refugee. Voices from the Field - 4 Sep 2015
 
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Mediterranean migration

1,658 people rescued in busiest day ever for MSF search and rescue operations

“Yesterday was a day of big numbers for MSF’s search and rescue operations, but for our teams at sea the focus is always on the individuals,” said Lindis Hurum, MSF Emergency Coordinator on the Bourbon Argos. Project Update - 3 Sep 2015
 
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Tunisia

Fishermen receive training in saving lives at sea

“Tragedies at sea will continue to regularly occur as people are desperate to flee to Europe” says Wiet Vandormael, MSF’s training coordinator “Search and rescue helps save lives but is not a long-term solution. The European Union needs to create safe and legal ways for people to reach Europe so that they don’t have to risk their lives during the journey.” Project Update - 1 Sep 2015
 
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Tunisia

Testimonies from fishermen receiving training in saving lives at sea

In order to increase the fishermen’s capacity to carry out rescues at sea, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has carried out a six-day training with 116 local fishermen in the town of Zarzis. Voices from the Field - 31 Aug 2015
 
Refugee children of Kos
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move

Refugees in Kos stuck in appalling conditions

Between January and July this year, 18,600 refugees arrived on the Greek island Kos by boat from Turkey. The majority are fleeing war and violence in Syria, but many also come from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. Project Update - 26 Aug 2015
 
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Greece

MSF receives 10 people with wounds from Macedonian stun grenades

"The violence used by the FYROM authorities against these harmless and vulnerable people is outrageous and should immediately stop” said Aurelie Ponthieu, MSF’s Humanitarian Advisor on Displacement. “The shocking scenes today are a result of extreme measures to prevent desperate people fleeing violence and war from crossing borders. But closing borders and using violence is not a solution, it is just provoking a humanitarian crisis on the other side." Project Update - 21 Aug 2015
 
Mediterranean migration

Proactive search and rescue operations essential life-saver

“Increasingly, we see that we are required to carry out multiple rescues from multiple boats within a matter of hours”, said Lindis Hurum, MSF Emergency Coordinator on board of the Bourbon Argos. “Our teams have also encountered boats with people who had already died from dehydration or asphyxiation during the journey. To me this suggests that despite the EU response supposedly being ‘bigger and better’ than last year, there are not enough boats available and in the right spot to adequately respond to the needs of those crossing the Mediterranean.” Project Update - 20 Aug 2015
 
Dignity I Emergency rescue
International Migrants Day

“I was inside the ship when it started sinking.”

Testimonies from people rescued by MSF’s search and rescue vessel Dignity I after a boat capsized on 5 August 2015 in the Mediterranean waters north of Libya. Voices from the Field - 12 Aug 2015
 
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Greece

Greek authorities’ inaction turns into abuse of refugees in Kos

“MSF is very worried about how the situation is evolving in Kos.” says Brice de le Vingne, MSF Director of Operations. “What was previously a situation of state inaction is now one of state abuse, with police using increasing heavy handed force against these vulnerable people. The great majority of people arriving here are refugees fleeing war in Syria and Afghanistan. The Kos authorities have clearly stated that they have no intention of improving the situation for these people as they believe that this would constitute a ‘pull factor’. But the truth is that people fleeing war will keep on coming whether or not the authorities are trying to stop them from doing so.” Project Update - 12 Aug 2015
 
Mediterranean migration

Rescue in the Mediterranean sea

On Thursday 6 August 2015, the MSF Search & Rescue boat Bourbon Argos engaged in a complicated and tense rescue operation of a vessel in visible distress crammed with 613 passengers. Photo Story - 10 Aug 2015
Cholera intervention in South Kivu
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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