Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon: Government forced Doctors Without Borders (International Humanitarian body) to withdraw its team from the North West Region
3 min read
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, an international medical humanitarian organization has been forced to withdraw its teams from the North-West region of Cameroon due to suspension by the government of Cameroon. Following the increasing violence in the North Wes and South West Regions of Cameroon, Doctors Without Borders have been providing the needy population with health emergencies.
From January 2020 until the suspension of its operations in December, MSF teams in the North-West region cared for 180 survivors of sexual violence, provided 1,725 mental health consultations, performed 3,272 surgeries, and transported 4,407 patients by ambulance—more than 1,000 of whom were women in labor. MSF-supported community health workers provided 42,578 consultations, primarily for diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections. MSF medical staff also treated direct victims of armed violence in the region.
“We cannot stay any longer in a region where we are not allowed to provide care to people here,” Emmanuel Lampaert, MSF’s operations coordinator for Central Africa said in a statement announcing the withdrawal of their services Today 3 August 2021. The North West Region is an area severely impacted by years of armed violence between security forces and separatist groups and for the past eight months, they have not been able to operate in the area.
In December 2020, the government suspended Doctors without borders’ activities in the North West on the basis that they were more closed with the Ambazonian fighters fighting for the restoration of the States of Southern Cameroons.
The International Organization has been helping especially victims of sexual violence, malaria cases and the wounded given that public transportations are restricted from most parts of the North West and South West Regions of the country. This will cost a lot in the lives of the civilian population.
“Unfortunately, we cannot keep our staff on standby any longer, so we have no choice but to withdraw our teams. However, we will keep a small liaison office in Bamenda, the regional capital, to continue our dialogue with the authorities.” Said Emmanuel Lampaert.
In the press release, the International Humanitarian body reiterated that “It is essential that other organizations step in to provide additional support to the Ministry of Health to ensure the provision of care for vulnerable people….This must be done with respect for health facilities, staff, and patients.”
Also, the International body reminded its audience that they have been providing humanitarian services to the affected population. Since 2018 “MSF had provided free emergency medical care and ambulance services in the North-West region since 2018, until, in December 2020,” and that the suspension by the government authorities have significantly reduced access to medical services in an area where communities are badly affected.
“We hope that the provision of medical humanitarian assistance to everyone, without exclusion, will still be possible. People are paying a very heavy price for this situation. If the authorities decide to lift our suspension, we will resume our medical activities as soon as possible.” Said Emmanuel Lampaert
While concluding the press release, the International body reiterated its humanitarian activities were according to the International Humanitarian Law, “MSF-supported community health workers provided 42,578 consultations, mainly for diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections. MSF medical staff also treated direct victims of armed violence in the region, in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law, Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and medical ethics.”
Read the original press release through the link below: MSF forced to withdraw teams from Cameroon’s North-West region | Doctors Without Borders – USA
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
