Stories From Patients & Staff

On the morning of Saturday 8 June 2024, Israeli forces heavily bombed the Middle Area of the Gaza Strip, including Al-Nuseirat refugee camp. MSF's Dr Hazem Maloh recalls that horrific and traumatising day when he lost many of his friends and neighbours. 

Most of the people who fled Sudan into Chad are women and children. Left as the sole providers, Sudanese women are now bearing the full responsibility of caring for their families. 

In December 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) began providing surgical activities at the Niono hospital in central Mali. People living in Niono and the surrounding area suffer the effects of armed conflict, with limited access to quality health facilities. MSF teams have now renovated the department, as well as providing additional resources to cater to the needs. 

Sue Bucknell took a chance in 2016 by taking leave from her job in Australia to go on her first assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to South Sudan, where she worked in supply logistics.

Two massacres in Rafah have occurred after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to “immediately” halt its military offensive in Rafah, in application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 

Without proper diagnostics and staff who can interpret test results, antibiotics are prescribed blindly – driving the rise of resistant bacteria worldwide. Dr Malou, MSF microbiologist has developed an app to act as a diagnostic test and a learning tool in countries where there is a shortage of microbiologists.

Water and sanitation specialist, Syed Imran Ali, was working in a refugee camp in South Sudan when his team were faced with a mystery. What they discovered changed how they thought about safe water supply, and is now helping to save lives in humanitarian crises around the world.

Donna Collins, nurse and midwife from Whangārei, New Zealand, shares her experience working in humanitarian projects, including as a midwife activity manager with MSF in Lebanon. 

General paediatrician and paediatric emergency medicine specialist at Sydney Children’s Hospital and Canberra, Dr Goodyer shares her insights about the opportunities and learnings from her colleagues overseas. 

Donna Collins is a nurse and midwife from Whangārei, New Zealand, who has a wealth of experience working in humanitarian projects. She worked in Lebanon as a midwife activity manager with MSF and has kindly spoken to us about her career as a humanitarian and what she enjoys most about working overseas.