In 2018 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams provided medical and humanitarian assistance to people facing extreme hardship in over 70 countries. From treating war-wounded ever closer to frontlines in Yemen, to responding to epidemic outbreaks such as cholera in Niger, or providing assistance to people fleeing violence in the Central African Republic, emergency response continued to be a core part of our work.
As 2018 drew to a close, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was in the midst of its second Ebola outbreak of the year, and its biggest ever. MSF was part of the response, led by the Ministry of Health.
Although rapid and well-resourced, with teams having access to a promising new vaccine and several new drugs with the potential to better protect and treat people, the response, and those managing it, failed to adapt to people’s priorities, and to gain the trust of the community.
This lack of trust in the health services meant people delayed or avoided seeking treatment. By the end of the year, the epidemic in North Kivu and Ituri provinces had claimed more than 360 lives and in some areas was still not under control.
The number of MSF projects working with displaced people has more than doubled since 2012. Record numbers of people have left their homes in search of safety, but many only encounter more violence, abuse and exploitation along the way.
Our work is not without its risks. Our teams provide care under the threat of detention, abduction and attack; our thoughts remain with Romy, Richard and Philippe, our colleagues abducted in DRC in July 2013, who remain missing.
Click here to download 2018 report in full .