Since heavy fighting erupted Oct. 8, 2007 in and around Muhajariya, Darfur most people are still too afraid to return to their homes, and continue to seek shelter under trees and plastic sheets. The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team of medical humanitarian aid workers who were forced to evacuate because of the attacks returned Oct. 21, and have been running mobile clinics in an effort to reach those displaced by the violence. The team is also providing assistance at the local hospital.

It has been confirmed that during the attacks Oct. 8, two Sudanese MSF staff members were killed: Adam Abduljabar Arja, an operating theatre attendant, and Hassan Abakar Abdalla, a guard at the MSF clinic. Adam was shot and killed while trying to find his father who was at home alone and unable to move on his own. Hassan was returning to Muhajariya from his farm during the time of the attack. He entered the village and while running for safety, was shot and killed.

During the evacuation, Sudanese MSF staff kept basic services running; now the hospital is fully functioning again, with 28 children admitted to the therapeutic feeding unit, bringing the in-patient number up to 69. The medical staff has recently treated 11 gunshot wounds — including providing surgery — and two patients remain in critical condition. Through the mobile clinics MSF medical staff has treated 856 patients so far.

MSF staff is also busy trucking water each day to people displaced in four different locations. Finally, together with the French nongovernmental organization Solidarités, MSF teams have also been doing some sanitation activities.

MSF is deeply saddened by the deaths of its two staff members, and remains vigilant about security in and around the town. Muhajariya remains relatively empty, with people only moving around during daylight hours.

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