Stories From Patients & Staff

Sasha, a long-time staff member of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) from Mariupol, Ukraine, describes life in the city as it was encircled and bombarded by Russian forces. For security reasons, he is using only his first name.

Aleksandr Burmin (name changed) is an MSF staff member in Ukraine. Like so many other Ukrainians, the conflict has forced Aleksandr to flee his home, and is now internally displaced within the country.

Gloria Mwambazi knows the importance of building up other women. As community engagement technical capacity manager, Gloria works with female sex worker-led community-based organisations to empower participants as part of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-supported project in Malawi. For her, leadership starts with a vision that's shared with others. 

Gloria's story is part of our coverage of women in leadership in MSF for International Women's Day.

Typhoon Rai devastated central and southern Philippines in December 2021. MSF's emergency intervention is located in two of the typhoon’s most badly affected areas—the island province of Dinagat; and Siargao island, in the province of Surigao del Norte. 

Two months on, survivors and MSF staff share their stories about the impact of the typhoon on their lives and livelihoods.

As we mark 50 years of medical humanitarian action, Dr Christos Christou, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International President, reflects on what has changed over half a century of care—and what has stayed the same. 

Psychologist Malcolm Hugo is one of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia’s most experienced field workers. He has completed more than 20 field assignments, including responding to some of the key humanitarian crises of recent times.

The Afghan healthcare system has been fragile and plagued by major gaps for years now, and the suspension of international aid as a result of the recent political developments has further deteriorated the situation.

In Herat, Médecins Sans Frontières is witnessing a worrying increase in malnutrition, says Mamman Mustapha, former Project Coordinator for MSF in the province.

Access to good menstrual hygiene is key to women’s health and wellbeing. But too often in humanitarian crises, these needs go unmet.

Medical coordinator Chiara Domenichini, and midwife and women’s health advisor Elisha Swift share current Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) work to support menstrual hygiene solutions.

Dr Khairil Musa, is a Sydney based emergency doctor who, in 2020, was sent as a field worker with Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF)/Doctors Without Borders to Yemen and later Iraq.

Dr Musa’s piece is an account of his time working in a COVID-19 treatment centre, run by MSF in Aden, Yemen.

Sarah Gnanaseharam is an Australian nurse who shares her experiences working as Nursing Activity Manager in Al Hol camp, northeast Syria.