Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), commonly known as Doctors Without Borders, has recently conducted an evacuation of its personnel in Zurmi, located in Zamfara state.
This decision follows the resurgence of armed conflicts in the town, posing a significant threat to a hospital under MSF’s support. The international humanitarian organization, in a statement released on Friday, revealed that the town is “dangerously close” to the said hospital.
MSF further communicated that, due to the escalated violence, it has temporarily halted the provision of healthcare services to communities beyond the town’s borders.
The organization cited a concerning incident of violent clashes just meters away from the hospital compound on Monday, emphasizing that it can no longer ensure the safety of both patients and staff members.
“Continuous heavy fighting has been taking place in Zurmi town since 10 December, with some of the confrontations occurring dangerously close to a hospital supported by Médecins sans Frontières (MSF),” the statement reads.
“These armed clashes have provoked the displacement of thousands of people in need of security, shelter and access to basic services. Humanitarian support is needed to help those in dire need of assistance.
“Faced with important security risks, MSF medical teams on the ground had to evacuate part of its staff and are unable to function optimally, having to suspend the provision of healthcare to communities outside of the town.”
Adjide Hermann, MSF deputy field coordinator in Zurmi, said the remaining staff on the ground are “afraid of what is going to happen next”.
“Our team had to seek shelter in the hospital for a long time,” Hermann said.
“Only two days later, a second attack obliged the team to sleep in the security room inside the hospital.
Simba Tirima, the MSF country representative, appealed to the parties involved in the clashes to cease hostilities.
The country representative said the MSF will try its best to “maintain the operations, but we wish to see improvements in the security situation to be able to provide the appropriate medical care”.
