Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is an international humanitarian medical organization that provides emergency assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from health care. MSF has been working in Gaza since 1989, providing medical care to the population living under the Israeli blockade.
MSF spokesperson: ‘We need a cease-fire now’
In an interview with ABC News, MSF communications manager Faris Al-Jawad said that the situation in Gaza is “unbearable” and that the organization is calling for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire. He said that MSF teams are working around the clock to treat the wounded and support the overwhelmed health system, but they are facing many challenges and risks.
“We have a team of 70 people, including 19 international staff, who are working in different hospitals and clinics in Gaza. They are doing surgeries, dressing wounds, providing mental health support, and donating medical supplies. But they are also witnessing the horror of this war, the destruction, the death, and the fear. They are not sure if they will make it back alive,” he said.
Al-Jawad said that MSF is concerned about the impact of the ongoing airstrikes and shelling on the civilian population, especially the children, who make up almost half of the 2 million people living in Gaza. He said that more than 200 people have been killed, including at least 61 children, and more than 1,400 have been injured, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
He also said that the health system in Gaza is on the verge of collapse, as it was already struggling before the escalation of violence due to the blockade, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of resources and staff. He said that many hospitals and clinics have been damaged or destroyed by the attacks, and that there is a severe shortage of electricity, water, fuel, and medicines.
“We need a cease-fire now. We need to stop this madness. We need to protect the civilians, the health workers, and the health facilities. We need to allow the humanitarian access and the evacuation of the wounded. We need to respect the international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. We need to end this cycle of violence and impunity,” he said.
MSF condemns world leaders for not calling for a cease-fire
MSF also issued a statement on Saturday, condemning the world leaders for their silence and inaction on the crisis in Gaza. The statement said that the organization is “appalled” by the lack of political will to end the hostilities and to address the root causes of the conflict.
“MSF is outraged by the international community’s complacency in the face of the slaughter of civilians and the destruction of health infrastructure in Gaza. The world leaders have failed to uphold their responsibility to protect the people of Gaza and to ensure their right to health and dignity. They have also failed to hold the parties to the conflict accountable for their violations of the international humanitarian law and human rights,” the statement said.
The statement also urged the world leaders to use their influence and leverage to pressure Israel and Hamas to stop the attacks and to negotiate a lasting and just peace. It also called for the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, which it said is “a form of collective punishment that violates the basic rights of the population and impedes the humanitarian response.”
“MSF is not taking sides in this conflict. We are on the side of the victims, the wounded, and the sick. We are on the side of humanity and justice. We are on the side of peace and dignity. We are calling on the world leaders to join us on this side, and to act now, before it is too late,” the statement said.
MSF appeals for donations and support
MSF also launched an appeal for donations and support for its operations in Gaza, saying that it needs more funds and resources to cope with the increasing needs and challenges. The organization said that it is grateful for the generosity and solidarity of the public, but that it still needs more help to continue its work.
“MSF is doing its best to provide medical care to the people of Gaza, but we cannot do it alone. We need your support to keep our teams and our patients safe, to replenish our stocks of medicines and supplies, to repair our damaged facilities, and to expand our activities. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference. Every gesture of solidarity, no matter how simple, can give hope. Please, help us to help them,” the organization said.
MSF said that people can donate online through its website, or by phone, mail, or bank transfer. It also said that people can spread the word about the situation in Gaza and the work of MSF, by sharing its posts on social media, by signing its petitions, or by organizing events and fundraisers.
“MSF is a movement of people who care about people. We are doctors, nurses, logisticians, administrators, and volunteers. We are also citizens, activists, and human beings. We are you. We are all in this together. We are all part of the solution. We are all Doctors Without Borders,” the organization said.
