MSF Canada Annual Report 2009

MSF worked through a year of striking contrasts in 2009. We keenly felt our limitations as medical workers when Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was witness to populations trapped in brutal situations in such places as the Gaza Strip, Sri Lanka and western Sudan.

In March, we had to close several missions in the Sudanese region of Darfur, one of our largest, because the Sudanese government decided to expel MSF staff. Six MSF colleagues were kidnapped and – fortunately – released unharmed.

Yet our challenges were also matched by successes, such as our unparalleled ability to cross all front lines during the fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and our response to disease outbreaks such as meningitis in the Sahel, and cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea, and our largest ever meningitis vaccination campaign where we vaccinated more than seven million people across Nigeria, Niger and CAR.

The year was also marked by natural disasters: flooding in West Africa, an earthquake in Indonesia, and tropical storms in the Philippines – all of which demanded relief action from MSF.

MSF also returned to Afghanistan after a five year absence, opening In October 2009, supporting activities in two hospitals in the country.

Over 90,000 Canadians contributed to MSF, despite the global recession, donating a total of $23 million dollars, three quarters of our revenue in 2009. The remainder came from the Canadian International Development Agency, who contributed $5.2 million on behalf of Canadian taxpayers.

In 2009 MSF Canada distributed $19 million to various field programs. Canadian donations went to fund projects in 16 countries, including Somalia, Guinea, Niger, Sudan, Colombia, Pakistan, Haiti and Russia.

In 2009 we sent 157 Canadians on 217 assignments in 39 countries. Canada’s bilingualism again proved an asset in the many French-speaking countries in which MSF operates.

Although the world remained a grim place for millions, Canadian support has helped MSF stay resolute, not seeing the challenges as a reason to give up, but a reason to keep trying.

More about MSF’s aid and advocacy in 2009 can be found in the full MSF Canada Annual Report, available here: MSF Canada 2009 Annual Report

Financial details for the year are in the Audited Financial Report, available here: MSF Canada 200 Audited Financial Report