Papua New Guinea managed to avoid the worst of the global pandemic in 2020. Now, the country is enduring a severe COVID-19 outbreak that is threatening to overwhelm the health system.

Stigma and misinformation hamper efforts to fight off the coronavirus. Médecins Sans Frontières is providing psychological support to COVID-19 patients in PNG as the country continues to struggle with the outbreak. 

MSF teams have mobilised to provide medical assistance to people fleeing intense violence in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. Since attacks began March, hundreds of people have fled the coastal city of Palma to nearby towns in search of safety - most fleeing by foot and hiding in the bush for days.

Of the 860,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, most live in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. With COVID-19 compounding the poor living conditions—and the recent large fire that swept through the camp—the situation for those in the area is bleak. 

MSF's activities are centred in the ‘mega camp’, a large collection of 26 camps. Bernard Wiseman, head of mission in Cox’s Bazar, describes the conditions the Rohingya currently face. 

The health system in Papua New Guinea is on the brink of collapse as COVID-19 cases triple in a matter of weeks and increasing numbers of healthcare staff are testing positive, says Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). 

The Australian Government’s support for Papua New Guinea’s COVID-19 response is welcome, but is insufficient and too late, said Médecins Sans Frontières /Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Since the presidential and legislative elections in December 2020, a wave of violence has swept over Central African Republic (CAR). It comes on top of decades of civil war that have already taken a heavy toll: today, more than half of people living in CAR rely on humanitarian aid.

Health facilities across Ethiopia’s Tigray region have been looted, vandalised and destroyed in a deliberate and widespread attack on healthcare, according to Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Of 106 health facilities visited by MSF teams between mid-December and early March, nearly 70 per cent had been looted and more than 30 percent had been damaged; just 13 per cent were functioning normally.

For the intensive care team in Aden, southern Yemen, traumatic injuries are only one part of the story. Doctor Silvia Marchesi blogs about the dedication of a team striving to save lives in the midst of conflict.

After 19 years of active conflict in Afghanistan, people’s humanitarian needs are not being met and women and children are disproportionately affected.

Following Myanmar’s military coup on 1 February, our teams in Myanmar have been working hard to maintain access to those most vulnerable.

Our medical activities are ongoing, and we are committed to continuing our care to those most in need.