Médecins Sans Frontières pulls out of Somalia over staff deaths
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières has said it is pulling out of Somalia after 22 years there because of attacks on its staff. The decision underscores the continued security risks despite military gains against Islamist insurgents and accompanying political progress.
In a scathing indictment of Somalia’s leaders, MSF said the decision is the result of “extreme attacks on its staff in an environment where armed groups and civilian leaders increasingly support, tolerate, or condone the killing, assaulting, and abducting of humanitarian aid workers”.
MSF has seen 16 staff members killed in Somalia since 1991, including two killed in 2011. MSF pointed to those two deaths and “the subsequent early release of the convicted killer” in contributing to its decision.
The group said the pullout will cut off hundreds of thousands of civilians from humanitarian aid.
“In choosing to kill, attack and abduct humanitarian aid workers, these armed groups, and the civilian authorities who tolerate their actions, have sealed the fate of countless lives in Somalia,” said Dr Unni Karunakara, MSF’s international president.
AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments