The Central African Republic has been named one of the “top ten most underreported humanitarian stories of 2007” by Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF). The international NGO cited the ongoing violence in CAR’s northwest with its toll on civilians, but also includes the conflicts in Somalia, Chechnya, Myanmar and new medical challenges such as drug-resistant tuberculosis.
In a press release published in New York, CAR was mentioned for the first time in the organization’s annual list or “underreported” crises.
In 2007, MSF in CAR supported health structures and provided primary and secondary health care in and around Kabo, Batangafo, Paoua, Kaga Bandoro, Markounda, and Boguila in the northwest, and Birao and Gordil in the northeast. MSF’s work suffered a tragic setback when aid worker Elsa Serfass was shot and killed by rebel gunfire, leading to a lengthy reduction of MSF operations in northwestern CAR.
MSF began producing the advocacy “Top Ten” list in 1998 following the devastating famine in southern Sudan which was met with little attention in Europe and the US. Based on MSF’s medical field work, the list promotes greater awareness of crises that are not always reflected in media accounts.
Often, media attention is critical for generating and improving responses. As part of this website’s core mission, it is our objective to draw greater attention to the humanitarian and development crisis in the Central African Republic.
