Medical aid group concerned about worsening security in South Kivu province
DAKAR (AlertNet) - Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has suspended its mobile health clinics in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province after two separate attacks on its teams there, the medical aid group said this week.
Two MSF staff were injured by gunshots after their car was attacked by assailants. In a second incident, armed men in uniform opened fire into the air, and robbed MSF drivers and their cargo on Sunday.
"After these two serious incidents, we have decided to suspend till further notice our outreach medical activities in South Kivu," Jean Marc Cordaro, MSF director of operations, said in a statement.
"It is a difficult decision, because it impacts on people of the region (who) have very little access to health care. But we cannot work without minimum security and respect for humanitarian staff."
The Uvira, Shabunda and Haut Plateaux regions of South Kivu are isolated and difficult to reach, leaving most residents - including several thousand people who have been uprooted by violence in eastern Congo - dependent on humanitarian groups such as MSF for health care.
MSF supports hospitals in main towns, where it will continue working, and has provided medical assistance to remote villages through mobile clinics like those that were raided.
Aid agencies report a general deterioration of security in South Kivu province, where several armed groups have attacked civilians and aid workers.
In a report this month, the United Nations also noted several cases of rape, as well as looting of property and livestock, by government soldiers chasing local militia in the province, driving women and children to hide in the bush.
"We have had security incidents before, but it is the first time in the South Kivu that we are experiencing a case where armed men have opened fire, directly targeting our people," Patrick Wieland, MSF programme manager for Congo, told AlertNet.
"The teams are extremely shocked... Opening fire like that on humanitarian workers has caused their colleagues to be worried, and we are fortunate that they didn't die," he said.
MSF says the safety of medical facilities, vehicles and staff must be respected by all parties in the conflict before it can resume provision of urgently needed health care in remote parts of South Kivu.
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