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War and conflict

War in Gaza:: find out how we're responding
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More than one third of our humanitarian and medical assistance is for people affected by armed conflict.

Armed conflict devastates lives. Targeted, harassed and trapped within hardship and poverty, people are often forced into flight. In other cases, people live under siege or in constant fear of  indiscriminate or even targeted attacks. In addition, people are often left impoverished without sufficient access to basic needs like food and medical care.
 
Comprehensive medical and humanitarian support is vital, but health services are often scarce. In conflict zones, we do not take sides.

We provide care based on needs alone, and work to reach those who require medical attention, regardless of which side of the frontline they happen to be.

Conflict and Health - ENG - 16:9
video

Conflict and Health

Conflict and health

How does conflict damage national health?

Armed conflict causes injury, displacement and death. Even after the guns have fallen silent, conflict continues to affect people’s health.

It devastates essential health services, disrupts medical supplies, forces medical staff to flee and leaves health systems broken, so when deadly diseases arrive they’re even harder to fight.

For people caught up in violence or its aftermath, it is more important than ever to have access to healthcare, shelter, sanitation and food.

Ibtisam Hashim, midwife, Nablus hospital, West Mosul
You can still see a lot of anger and pain in people’s eyes wherever you go. Abdulrahman Dhannoon Khaleel, MSF project coordinator support
Iraq

Mosul: A city recovering from war

 
Côte d'Ivoire

Marked deterioration of situation in west of Ivory Coast

Press Release 4 Mar 2011
 
Sudan

Tens of thousands displaced following days of fighting in the Abyei, Sudan, area

Project Update 4 Mar 2011
 
Libya

Aid access to violence-affected area blocked

Project Update 2 Mar 2011
 
Mediterranean migration

Migrants fleeing the Libya/Tunisia border

Project Update 2 Mar 2011
 
IDP camps in downtown Mogadisho - August 2011
Somalia

New offensive in Somalia causes scores of casualties

Project Update 1 Mar 2011
 
Côte d'Ivoire

MSF responds to increasing needs following escalation in violence in the Ivory Coast

Project Update 28 Feb 2011
 
Libya

First evaluation of medical facilities in Benghazi

Project Update 26 Feb 2011
 
South Sudan

'Insecurity remains a reality'

Voices from the Field 25 Feb 2011
 
Libya

Urgent priority must be given to doctors and medical materials

Project Update 25 Feb 2011
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1 June 2018