MSF Photo Blog

Photo: Gaël Turine

Brussels – November18, 2009
A kosovar family eats lunch at the soup kitchen organised by CIRÉ and Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen at the Saint-Roch church in Brussels.
At this moment, more than 1,000 asylum seekers have nowhere to go and survive in the streets, with winter rapidly approaching.

Photo: Spencer Platt

Dadaab, Kenya – August 22, 2009
A boy stands beside scavenging birds feeding of carcasses at a slaughter house in Dadaab, the world’s biggest refugee complex, on the border with Somalia. An estimated 5,000 people arrive monthly to the camps, which are operated by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The camps have been in operation for since 1991 and are currently home to some 289,500 inhabitants.

Photo: Michael Goldfarb

Ahwar, Yemen – December 2008
Two Somali women refugees wait for a consultation with an MSF psychological counselor at clinic in Ahwar after surviving a dangerous two-day journey in overcrowded smugglers’ boats from northern Somalia.

Photo: Dragan Lekic

Paris, France – August 2009
The mayor of Paris has decided to end the nocturnal occupation in the Villemin Square in the tenth arrondissement of Paris. This garden has been the site of squatting by hundreds of mostly Afghan refugees since the closure of the Sangatte center near Calais. Hundreds of Afghans are currently living in deplorable conditions in Paris; some are in transit, others are applying for asylum in France.

Photo: Espen Rasmussen / Panos

Cox´s Bazar, Bangladesh, June 30 2009.
Some of the Rohingya live along the beach on the road between Cox´s Bazar and the Kutupalong makeshift [refugee] camp. They try to earn a little money by fishing. There are thought to be around 200,000 to 400,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh today.

Photo: Chris Maluszynski

Lampedusa, Italy – December 2004
The small island of Lampedusa south of Sicily belongs to Italy, but lies closer to Africa than Europe. About 10 000 boat migrants from different African countries arrived here in 2004. In the autumn, Italian authorities started returning the migrants to Libya without processing their requests for asylum.

Photo: Patrick Zachmann / Magnum Photos

Hal Far, Malta – July 2009
Baby in waiting room of the clinic run by MSF in Malta. The clinic was set up so that migrants and asylum seekers staying in open centres in Malta could have access to health care and psychological support. The clinic is in Hal Far, near the open centres.
MSF provides medical care, mental health support and health promotion activities to migrants and asylum seekers living in open centres in Hal Far and in Ta’kandja detention center in Malta. MSF started working in Malta in August 2008.

Photo: Espen Rasmussen / Panos

Mae La refugee camp, Thailand – November 2007
Near the border to Myanmar, in Mae La camp, which houses more than 30 000 refugees. MSF began treating tuberculosis (TB) among unregistered migrant workers from Burma and refugees in Mae Lae camp in 1999. The project also offers counselling and health education.

Photo: Brendan Bannon

Yambio, South sudan – June 2009
Houses in Yambio southern Sudan at night. LRA attacks along the border belt area of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan have displaced tens of thousands of people from homes like these.
Click here to see a slideshow with more images and commentary by the photographer, Brendan Bannon.

Photo: Dominic Nahr / Oeil Public

Dagahaley Refugee Camp, Dadaab – July 2009
A young Somali boy held by his mother looks out from between the veils.
An estimated 5,000 people arrive monthly to the Dagahaley, Ifo, and Hagadera camps located in the Kenyan border town of Dadaab, which are operated by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Photo: Sven Torfinn

Nyala, Kalma camp, South Darfur – March 2007
Trees are not safe around one of the world’s biggest IDP (internal displaced people) camps in South Darfur. People cut the last remaining trees to be used as fire wood for cooking and, as a result, the environment surrounding the IDP camps is changing rapidly. People cannot travel far to collect wood or food for their animals due to insecurity in the deserted areas around the main towns and refugee camps.

Photo: Christian Overdeput

Isahasa, Uganda – April 2009
Congolese refugees hide from the rain in Matanda camp, which serves as a transitory camp in Ishasha, Uganda, just over the border with Democratic Republic of Congo.

Photo: Robert Knoth

Katkama refugee camp – february 2001
Locals have set fire to some huts in the camp. They strongly oppose the presence of the refugees, regarding them all being rebels. Because of constant fighting between several Rebel movements and the Guinean Army in Eastern Guinea there was an outbreak of violence against refugees from Sierra Leone. Several refugee camps have been destroyed.

Camp de réfugiés Katkama – février 2001
Des habitants ont mis feu à certaines huttes du camp. Ils s’opposent fortement à la présence de réfugiés, qu’ils considèrent rebelles, dû à la violence constante entre divers mouvements rebelles et l’armée guinéenne dans l’est de la Guinée, où une résurgence de la violence sévit contre les réfugiés de la Sierra Léone. Plusieurs camps de réfugiés ont été détruits.

Photo: Philipp Horak

Goré, Chad – November 2006
Around 30.000 refugees who fled violence in northern Central African Republic are living in three refugee camps around the little village of Goré in southern Chad. They fled their homes as result of fighting between government troops and various rebel groups. Civilians, suspected of supporting one side or the other, are systematically targeted by violence or caught in the crossfire.

Goré, Tchad – novembre 2006
Quelque 30.000 réfugiés qui ont fui la violence en cours dans le nord de la République centrafricaine vivent dans trois camps de réfugiés autour du petit village de Goré, au sud du Tchad. Ils ont quitté leurs maisons suite aux combats entre les troupes du gouvernement et différents groupes rebelles. Les civils suspectés de soutenir l’un ou l’autre camp sont systématiquement visés par la violence ou pris entre deux feux.

Photo: Austin Andrews

Musina – 18 March 2009
Every day, thousands of Zimbabweans cross the border to South Africa risking their lives to flee the economic meltdown, ongoing political turmoil, food insecurity, and the collapse of the health system in their country. In response to the clear humanitarian and health needs of these refugees, MSF opened a project in 2007 to provide general primary health care, referral to existing secondary and specialised medical facilities, and other humanitarian assistance for vulnerable Zimbabweans in Musina, at the border with Zimbabwe.

Musina – 18 mars 2009
Tous les jours, des milliers de Zimbabwéens traversent la frontière avec l’Afrique du Sud au péril de leur vie pour fuir la crise économique, la tourmente politique incessante, l’insécurité alimentaire et l’effondrement du système de santé dans leur pays. Les besoins humanitaires et sanitaires de ces réfugiés ont incité MSF à ouvrir un projet dans la ville frontière sud-africaine de Musina en 2007. Son objectif était d’offrir des soins primaires, de diriger les patients vers des centres de soins secondaires et spécialisés existants, le cas échéant et, plus généralement, d’apporter une aide humanitaire à ces Zimbabwéens en difficulté.

Photo: Bénédicte Kurzen

Johannesburg – May 2008
Following the outbreaks of violence against foreigners in Johannesburg, in May 2008, MSF has provided medical assistance to the displaced population. After assessing 20 sites where people have sought refuge in and around Johannesburg, four mobile MSF teams established a regular presence in 15 sites. MSF treated more than 2,500 patients in less than 3 weeks, distributed blankets, hygiene kits, and plastic sheeting for shelter.

Johannesburg – mai 2008
À la suite de la flambée de violence envers les étrangers de mai 2008, à Johannesburg, MSF a procuré une assistance médicale aux personnes déplacées. Après avoir évalué 20 sites où la population a cherché à se réfugier, à Johannesburg et ses alentours, 4 équipes mobiles ont établi une présence régulière dans 15 des sites. Les équipes médicales de MSF ont traité plus de 2500 patients en moins de 3 semaines, distribué des couvertures, des trousses hygiéniques et des toiles de plastique pour fabriquer des abris.

Photo: Christian Overdeput, co2

Matanda, Uganda – February 2009
Two boys gathering water from a puddle on the road near Matanda camp.
Civilians fleeing to Uganda to escape the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are afraid to go back, fearing violence, massacres and forced enrollment in the military or armed groups. The little news they receive from relatives who remain there reinforces their belief that it is not safe to return.

Matanda, Ouganda – février 2009
Les populations civiles qui ont fui la RDC pour échapper au conflit craignent a présent d’y retourner afin d’éviter de faire face à de nouvelles violences, de nouveaux massacres et potentiellement d’être enrôlées de force dans des groupes armés. Le peu d’information qu’ils reçoivent de leurs proches restés sur place ne les incitent pas à croire qu’il soit désormais prudent de rentrer.

Photo: Sven Torfinn

Niger – March 2003
150 young men loaded on a truck, on their way through the Sahara – from Sub-Saharan Africa to Libya or any other North-African country, with a final destination of Europe. Crossing the desert takes about a week.

Niger – mars 2003
150 jeunes hommes chargés sur un camion, sur leur chemin à travers le Sahara, de l’Afrique subsaharienne vers la Libye ou de tout autre pays d’Afrique du Nord, en Europe, destination finale. La traversée du désert dure environ une semaine.

Photo: Roger Turesson, Moment

Chad – December 2004
In the middle of the desert lies Touloum refugee camp, near the border with with Darfur, Sudan. Displaced from their villages, thousands of Sudanese have fled across the border into Chad.

Tchad – décembre 2004
Au milieu du désert se trouve le camp de réfugiés de Touloum, près de la frontière avec le Darfour, au Soudan. Déplacés de leurs villages, des milliers de Soudanais ont fui au Tchad en traversant la frontière.

Photo: Jehad Nga

Tawilla, Sudan – July 2006
As a sand storm approaches, women from Rwanda Camp stand amongst their homes made from mud and straw. The people camping on the doorstep of the African Union base in Tawilla have not fled far – most have come from the town and its surrounding villages. Oftentimes, they simply moved across the road, building this camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and naming it “Rwanda”, after the first contingent of peacekeepers based there.

Tawilla, Soudan – juillet 2006
Alors qu’une tempête de sable approche, des femmes du Camp Rwanda restent près de leurs maisons de boue et de paille. Les gens qui campent à l’entrée de la base de l’Union africaine de Tawilla n’ont pas fui très loin. La plupart arrivent de la ville et des villages environnants. Ils ont souvent simplement traversé de l’autre côté de la route, construit ce camp pour déplacés (PDIP), et l’ont nommé « Rwanda » d’après le premier contingent de casques bleus à y être postés.

Photo: Bruno Stevens

Farchana, Chad – June 2004
A newborn baby is brought to the MSF medical center for examination. Today, more than 200,000 refugees from Darfur, Sudan, are living in refugee camps in eastern Chad. MSF has been in Chad since 1981, and has been helping refugees in eastern Chad since the current Darfur refugee crisis started in 2003.

Photo: Dirk-Jan Visser

Every month, thousands of Zimbabweans escaping dire situations and in search of a better life, cross illegally into South Africa by swimming across the Limpopo river and climbing fences near Beitbridge. Their intention is to find a job in Johannesburg in order to sustain their families facing desperate economic situations in a deteriorating Zimbabwe.

Photo: MSF

Thousands of Somali and Ethiopians risk their lives every year to cross the Gulf of Aden to escape conflict and extreme poverty. The trip is fraught with danger, as people are exposed to violence from the smugglers who transport them, and receive little assistance upon their arrival in Yemen.

MSF opened a project on the southern coast of Yemen in September 2007 to provide medical, psychological and humanitarian assistance to the new arrivals. A mobile team provides first aid and assistance on the beach and MSF runs an emergency health centre in the Ahwar Reception Centre (ARC).

Photo: Christian Sinibaldi

Since 2003, MSF has operated medical triage and first aid on the dock where migrants land. In the past 3 years, more than 50,000 people arrived in over 700 boats. Many of the boats come from Libya after a journey that last approximately 2 to 4 days; the last leg of a migration that sometimes lasts years. Once landed, migrants are identified by the police and kept inside the CPSA before being redirected to other centres where they stay longer and have their future decided. Some of them ask for asylum, the others are expelled.

Photo: Sven Torfinn

Kibati refugee camp. Displaced people found refuge in an hangar belonging to Don Bosco orphanage home. Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.

This photo is part of the MSF “Top 10 Humanitarian Crises of 2008″ year end report.