Following a violent armed robbery last night that threatened the lives of its workers, the international humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has evacuated all its 58 national and international staff from Bangassou, a town in the southeastern area of the country that is largely under control of various armed groups affiliated to the Anti-Balaka factions.
"We had the will and the means to stay in those areas. But we cannot put the lives of our staff on the line when the medical structures where we work and our staff are threatened", says Frederic Lai Manantsoa, MSF's country director.
In the Bangassou region, half a million people were relying almost entirely on MSF services to access healthcare. Following attacks, most health centers in the area not supported by the organization were left empty, lacking staff and the most basic drugs and medical supplies.
"Today, the 30 children under five who were in intensive care in the Bangassou hospital will not be seen by doctors or nurses. The 26 patients in urgent need of surgery will be left in their beds. The only outside witnesses of what is happening on the ground in the area are UN troops and some missionaries. The Bangassou population has already started leaving the city, including critically ill patients from the hospital", says Frédéric Lai Manantsoa.
"Facing such huge, desperate needs, an international humanitarian organization like ours should try to remain in the area as long as possible. Leaving the population utterly abandoned is a painful admission that we are unable to bring humanitarian relief to one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world today because of attacks on our staff."