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Ethiopia: State Interference Forces Medical Charity to Stop Work
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Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
11 July 2008
Posted to the web 11 July 2008
Nairobi
The lives of thousands of Ethiopians in need of humanitarian aid in the Somali Region are at risk following a decision by the medical charity, MSF Switzerland, to withdraw, citing obstruction by the government.
MSF Switzerland said in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday that it was stopping its activities in the Fiiq area where it had started an assistance program last December.
Since April 2007, the increase of violence and economic blockade linked to the conflict between the Ethiopian authorities and opposition movements has had critical repercussions on civil populations. Their humanitarian and sanitary situation is further worsened by the drought.
The mostly nomadic populations are faced with restrictions of movement that do not allow them to engage in their traditional survival activities. Their access to health and food assistance is also restricted.
MSF Switzerland said repeated administrative hurdles and intimidations of its staff in the Fiiq have prevented the organization from delivering urgently needed medical care to vulnerable populations.
"Over the six months of our intervention, our medical teams could only work for ten weeks in Fiiq Town and five in the periphery of the town where the most important needs are. It significantly reduces the medical impact of our action", said Hugues Robert, in charge of the Ethiopia program in Geneva.
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The authorities' attitude towards humanitarian organizations has translated into recurrent arrests of MSF Switzerland staff without charge or explanation. "We are unable to consistently carry out independent needs assessments and implement our activities where the needs are greatest," said Hugues Robert.
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