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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

 
Kenya

Severe and indiscriminate violence sweeps across Nairobi slums

Project Update 24 Jan 2008
 
Sri Lanka

Medical and surgical activities assisting populations isolated in the Sri Lankan conflict

Project Update 22 Jan 2008
 
Kenya

MSF assists people displaced by violence in Kenya

Project Update 10 Jan 2008
 
Pakistan

MSF tries to respond during heavy fighting in northwest Pakistan

Project Update 3 Jan 2008
 
Somalia

Displaced populations fleeing war in Mogadishu face a dramatic situation

Press Release 11 Dec 2007
 
Angola

The Angolan Government must put an end to the abuses committed by its army against Congolese migrants during their expulsion from the country

Press Release 5 Dec 2007
 
South Sudan

Patients and family members killed inside MSF compound

Press Release 29 Nov 2007
 
Iraq

Surgery for wounded Iraqis

Crisis Update 30 Oct 2007
 
Democratic Republic of Congo

In Ituri, civilian populations are still subjected to sexual violences and high levels of brutality

Project Update 24 Oct 2007
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1 June 2018