Doctors Without Borders, alongside other humanitarian organisations and local health authorities is managing to provide services in some areas, but continued fighting and access restrictions mean only a fraction of the number of people in need of assistance can be reached.
Many people escaping violence in other areas of Shan state have now fled to Lashio, northern Shan, where Doctors Without Borders is already present providing life-saving HIV and TB services to communities with limited access to treatment. Doctors Without Borders conducted a “rapid needs assessment” of people who have been displaced in the areas we could reach and together with other organisations have been able to donate non-food items and hygiene kits, provide psychological first aid, and medical consultations for women and children.
Missed appointments mean patients are without their life-saving medication, risking their health, leaving them vulnerable to drug resistance and developing other opportunistic infections.
In Rakhine state, the resumption of conflict after the breakdown of a ceasefire brokered last November, has put a halt to Doctors Without Borders’ regular mobile clinics, where our teams treat 1,500 patients on a weekly basis.
Route blockages and blanket travel restrictions due to active conflict in areas where we run these clinics are making it impossible for Doctors Without Borders teams to even support emergency referrals for critically ill patients.
This is occurring only six months after a devastating cyclone hit the state. Communities are still recovering from its impact.
A Nout Ye IDP camp in Pauktaw, Rakhine State, after Cyclone Mocha hit in May. Myanmar, June 2023.
In Kachin state, while the intensity of the conflict we witnessed a few weeks ago has abated for now, patients returning to our clinics for sexual and reproductive healthcare services and HIV/TB care tell us they fear making the journey to us because of the risk of being caught up in violence along the way, and because of the fear of airstrikes and shelling.
On 25th September, a four-person Doctors Without Borders team visited Hpakant General Hospital in Kachin state to prepare a space as part of our support to our HIV cohort transferred to the local health authorities. Armed men began shooting outside the compound, eventually making their way inside the hospital and severely injured one patient.
Doctors Without Borders' HIV clinic in Myitkyina, Kachin state. Myanmar, 2021.
We are witnessing an unacceptable disregard for the protected nature of hospital infrastructure. With growing medical and humanitarian needs across the country, we implore all parties to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers in conflict areas, and to allow safe and unimpeded access to people who have been left without life-saving services while their communities are caught in the crossfire.
Doctors Without Borders: Medical facilities, patients and healthcare workers must be protected as conflict escalates across Myanmar (in Burmese)
Doctors Without Borders: Medical facilities, patients and healthcare workers must be protected as conflict escalates across Myanmar (in Burmese)
