Most of what MSF does is basic medicine, including immunizations and treatments for malnutrition and dehydration. There are also a plethora of diseases that have been eradicated in the Westbut still plague MSF-visited countries. Borolotti talks about the toll of these diseases, that are viewed by those in the developed world as diseases of "historical curiosity," particularly malaria.
SARS caused fewer than eight hundred deaths worldwide in 2003, while malaria kills about the same number every six hours.
Treatment options for these and other ailments (sleeping sickness, typhoid, etc) are limited because drug companies don't see profit potential in researching medications.
From news reports, the life of MSF volunteers can seem extremely dangerous. Aid workers can be killed by landmines, in accidents, and sometimes even deliberately targeted for violence.
In Iraq, where both the UN and the Red Cross offices were targeted by suicide bombers in 2003, many in the aid community believe that agencies — even the rigorously neutral Red Cross — are being targeted because they're seen as tools of the occupying coalition army. And they believe this image is the result of a deliberate strategy by the US and British governments. When Colin Powell talks about NGOs being "such an important part of our combat team," and Tony Blair says that "this war has three dimensions: the military, the political and the humanitarian one," they reinforce the idea that aid organizations are their partners rather than independent actors.
Governments seeking legitimacy by associating their work with that of aid organizations do so at great potential cost to those who are working for independent humanitarian relief efforts. MSFers tell of places where soldiers have begun adopting the habits of aid workers—driving the same vehicles, dressing in the same style of clothing—leaving aid workers and soldiers indistinguishable to the eyes of local residents.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
Nice review, on an extremely worthwhile topic. Thanks!