MSF cancels support for two health centers in Kimbi and Baraka, in southern Kivu. A decision taken after a first withdrawal in July 2020 by a large part of the NGO’s staff in the territory of Fizi, in the same province.
Humanitarians were the target of several violent incidents in 2020. They can no longer carry out their mission, explains Ellen van der Velden, chief operating officer of Médecins Sans Frontières:
Médecins Sans Frontières has had several health facilities for a long time, but in recent years, especially this year, we have been affected by several security incidents in Fizi’s territory. In addition, the number of other incidents involving various NGOs is increasing enormously. And, of course, the population in this area is the most targeted, but humanitarian aid workers are not spared. ”
Too many risks
The boss thinks this decision is difficult, but she no longer has a choice: “So it is a decision made with great difficulty, but it is no longer possible for us to send teams as we did. For years, because the risk of a The fourth incident is too big, and of course we hope to find new ways of treating people, which is why we call on all parties to protect civilian populations and to respect humanitarian access.
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