MSF is deeply saddened by the recent attack during the graduation of medical students from Benadir University in Mogadishu that killed at least 19 people, including the Minister of Health, medical students and journalists.

Medical needs throughout Somalia are vast and in many places made all the worse by high levels of violence and prolonged drought. In contrast to these needs, the provision of medical care is vastly insufficient and many people throughout the country suffer unnecessarily as a result of the lack of healthcare.

The medical graduates of Benadir University offer a rare hope for the Somali people: the possibility of lifesaving medical care. Medical staff provide assistance based on medical need alone, regardless of political or clan affiliation. Their work is crucial to reducing the suffering of the country’s most vulnerable, such as malnourished children, pregnant women and those with trauma related injuries. In order to effectively do this the safety of medical staff and facilities must be assured.

In 2009 MSF was proud to support the training of Benadir University’s first medical graduates and recruited a number of them to work with the organization.  They joined MSF’s other committed Somali staff whose work enables the organization to continue to run 10 projects in 8 regions throughout Somalia, supported by a remote management team based in Nairobi.

MSF sends its thoughts and condolences to the families and friends of those who have suffered as a result of this tragic event.

MSF has worked in Somalia for more than 17 years and continues to provide free medical care in eight regions of the country today. In 2008 alone, MSF teams provided 727,428 outpatient consultations, including 267,168 for children under five.

Over 55,000 women received antenatal care consultations and more than 24,000 people were admitted as inpatients to MSF supported hospitals and health clinics. There were 3,878 surgeries, 1,249 of which were injuries due to violence. Medical teams treated 1,036 people suffering from the deadly neglected disease kala azar, more than 4,000 for malaria and started 1,556 people on tuberculosis treatment. Nearly 35,000 people suffering from malnutrition were provided with food and medical care and 82,174 vaccinations were given.

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