This book seeks to puncture a number of the myths that have grown up over the forty years since MSF was founded and describes in detail how the ideals of humanitarian principles and ‘humanitarian space’ operating in conflict zones are in reality illusory. How, in fact, it is the grubby negotiations with varying parties, each of whom have their own vested interests, that may allow organisations such as MSF to operate in a given crisis situation - or not. Book - 22 Nov 2011

HIV/AIDS

Access to HIV treatment must speed up to match political promises

The growing number of averted HIV/AIDS deaths according to data released by UNAIDS represents important progress, but the number of people put on treatment must increase dramatically in order to reap the benefits of the new science showing that HIV treatment both saves lives and helps prevent new infections. Press Release - 21 Nov 2011

Democratic Republic of Congo

Condition still critical

Decades of conflict and a lack of government investment have made it hard for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to access basic healthcare. Epidemics have spread unchecked and treatment of deadly diseases has been neglected. Project Update - 18 Nov 2011

Palestine

Residents deprived of critical medications and medical care

In late September, 164 essential drugs, representing 36% of necessary supplies, were completely unavailable compared to 25% in 2010. No humanitarian actor, including MSF, has the resources required to provide the drugs and medical supplies needed by the Territory's health facilities. Project Update - 17 Nov 2011

Myanmar

Helping patients follow their treatment

MSF is currently treating patients in its HIV programmes in Myanmar for tuberculosis (TB). The organisation is providing diagnosis, treatment and counselling to around 2,540 TB patients in the country, where it has been working since 1992. Project Update - 17 Nov 2011

Myanmar

Interview with HIV/AIDS is still a taboo subject

Dr Calorine Mekiedje specialises in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and has worked in Mozambique and Cameroon, among other places. She talks about her experience as a medical advisor at the Dawei clinic in the south of Myanmar, where MSF has been treating patients infected with HIV/AIDS and co-infected with tuberculosis (TB) since 2000. Voices from the Field - 17 Nov 2011

Somalia

MSF treats tens of thousands affected by crisis

Thousands of people have been forced to flee Somalia and are seeking humanitarian aid in refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. A measles epidemic is spreading. The lack of infrastructure and services is worsening the population’s vulnerability. Project Update - 14 Nov 2011

Türkiye

MSF distributes winterised tents following earthquake

After an earthquake struck southeast Turkey on October 23, MSF teams, in collaboration with local organizations, have distributed 2,000 winterized tents and 2,000 cooking kits to 12,000 people in Van and Ercis, the cities most affected by the quake. Project Update - 9 Nov 2011

Ethiopia

Surge in the number of Somali refugees demands increased capacity

The number of refugees crossing the border into Ethiopia has increased to around 300 per day, numbers not seen since July. “The capacity to receive more people and provide the necessary food, nutritional care, medical care, drinking water, sanitation and more is grossly insufficient,” said Wojciech Asztabski, MSF Project Coordinator in Dollo Ado. Press Release - 2 Nov 2011

Social violence and exclusion

Urban Survivors

Over the last decades, rapid and sustained urbanisation has swelled existing slums, and spurred the creation of new ones around the world. Today, more than one out of ten people on the planet live in a slum. To highlight the critical humanitarian and medical needs that exist in urban settings worldwide, MSF is now launching Urban Survivors - a multimedia project in collaboration with the NOOR photo agency and Darjeeling Productions. Voices from the Field - 2 Nov 2011

Four mothers posing in a corridor of the Hospital in Bili. All four of them are staying in the hospital with their child, that's suffering from a severe case of malaria. Since the beginning of the project in 2016, the pediatric ward already treated more than 4.000 cases of complicated/severe form of malaria.

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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Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed: The MSF experience