The challenging decision to close our project bases in Kumba and Mamfe, in the South-West of Cameroon, has been made by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
The majority of our workers will have their contracts terminated as a result of this decision, which will go into effect on August 1st.
This closure comes three months after MSF’s operations were halted.
Since December 2021 and January 2022, when they were performing medical humanitarian work in the South-West region, four MSF colleagues have been wrongfully incarcerated.
We have been fighting to achieve their release.
Two of the four were granted conditional release in May, while the other two are still behind bars and will all be put on trial.
To support the release and resolution of the cases, as well as to continue communication with the authorities as we work to restore the conditions that will allow us to conduct our operations in a secure environment, a small staff and sufficient resources will be kept in the South-West region.
We made this choice because we cannot continue to support our teams forever without knowing when we will be able to resume our operations and the possibility that our personnel will be able to work in environments where they won’t face legal repercussions for giving medical care to individuals in need.
MSF will think about going back and revisiting this choice after the trial and in light of our discussions with the Cameroonian authorities.
In order for personnel to hopefully return to their positions with confidence that their efforts saving lives won’t put them in danger of facing legal repercussions, we continue to work to strengthen the humanitarian notification system.
We remain optimistic that we can reach an understanding with the authorities that will allow MSF to help the regional healthcare system and provide medical aid to the local populace.
In accordance with medical ethics and international humanitarian law, MSF, an international medical organisation, offers unbiased medical assistance to every patient in need.