On Tuesday 8 July 2008, a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Kerfi, a small town in Eastern Chad, came under attack. Dozens of young men rampaged through the health facility attacking anyone they came across, ransacking and destroying the pharmacy and consultation rooms. Patients, including severely malnourished children, were forced to flee and their whereabouts and current condition are not known at this time. Several MSF staff were severely beaten during the incident but fortunately did not sustain serious injuries.
Patients receive medical assistance at a MSF clinic for displaced peoples. Chad, 2006.
Alexandre Dupeyron
Following this attack, MSF has withdrawn most
of its staff from the area and suspended medical activities. MSF is deeply concerned about the situation in Kerfi, especially for its patients who remain without adequate medical care, including 200 malnourished children.
Violence also took place in other parts of the town resulting in deaths and injuries to an unknown number of people. The motivation for the assault is still unclear, but it seems that non-governmental organisations were intentionally targeted.
“We are appalled and outraged that patients and medical staff have come under attack inside our medical facility,” says Karline Kleijer, MSF Head
of Mission in Chad. “This incident shows an unacceptable disrespect for humanitarian aid and medical facilities and limits MSF’s and other aid agencies’ capacity to provide assistance to populations in eastern Chad. It also illustrates how the general lack of security in this area of Chad directly affects civilians.”
Following the attack, MSF treated several injured people including some of those that attacked the clinic. After the most seriously wounded had been taken care of, the team left Kerfi by car for another MSF base in Goz Beida.
MSF’s medical activities in Kerfi are currently suspended.
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In the Kerfi health post MSF provides 24-hour medical care to villagers and displaced people, including a therapeutic feeding programme for children and antenatal and postnatal care. The MSF team sees more than 3,000 patients per month and gives nutritional support to about 200 children. Patients are referred to Goz Beida hospital (supported by another NGO) if they need further treatment. More than 10,000 Chadian displaced people live in or around Kerfi, joining approx 8,000 original Chadian inhabitants.