JORDAN: MSF seeks better access to conflict areas

Record ID: 405905

  • Title: JORDAN: MSF seeks better access to conflict areas
  • Date: 5th March 2010
  • Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (MARCH 3, 2010) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) VARIOUS OF QUEEN RANIA WALKING ALONGSIDE OFFICIALS FROM MEDICINES SANS FRONTIERS (MSF) QUEEN RANIA LISTENING TO PRESENTATION ABOUT WORK OF MSF VARIOUS OF QUEEN LISTENING TO MSF OFFICIALS QUEEN RANIA WALKING WITH OFFICIALS FROM MSF (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS CHRISTOPHE
  • Embargoed: 20th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVAE5Z7N8C5FS7GZYU6V8MJDJFVS
  • Story Text: Paris-based Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) launched a convoy in Jordan on Tuesday (March 3) under the patronage of Queen Rania in a bid to raise awareness of their work and gain easier access to conflict stricken areas in the region.
    Queen Rania, a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and a humanitarian activist, toured the exhibition and watched a film about the difficulties MSF staff face in reaching conflict areas.
    Christophe Fournier, president of MSF said the organisation needed to explain its role in conflict areas to avoid obstacles that presently hinder their work around the world.
    "We cannot be so arrogant and think that everybody in this world knows what is humanitarian action, and specifically what is the action of Médecins Sans Frontières, but still we need maximum clarity and maximum visibility on who we are exactly if we want to access all populations, especially in conflict cities," said Fournier, insisting that MSF is independent, neutral and without any hidden agenda.
    "There is sort of a confusion between these western countries, being party to the conflict and organisations that would be western based and that could be seen as being part of this war fought in these countries. It is very important to strongly state, today, for Médecins Sans Frontières that humanitarian action is something else. Its neutral, impartial. We don't take sides and therefore we should be granted the possibility to access all populations because we don't have any hidden agenda," he said.
    The organisation treats hundreds of Iraqi war victims in clinics in Amman. The majority of patients treated have complicated medical problems that require reconstruction surgery which can not be carried out in Iraq, according to doctor Ali Al Ani, a surgeon with MSF Amman.
    "At the current time, the number of patients who have been treated since August 2006 has nearly reached 1,000. Thank God, we offer what we can to treat these victims regardless of their sect or political belief or racial background," said Ani.
    Like many other humanitarian organisations, MSF was driven out of Iraq after the American lead invasion in 2003, when sectarian violence left the country in a state of chaos.
    Many aid groups have recently returned to certain parts of Iraq, taking advantage of the relative improvement in security situation. Many others are still wary of the vulnerable political situation, despite upcoming elections and the near withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
    The caravan is expected to head to the Palestinian territories, Syria and Lebanon next to gain more exposure in the region.
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