Medicines Sans Frontiers/Doctors Without Borders

The aims of Partnership for Change (PFC) are to face up to the challenge of climate change, to assist in communicating the impacts of global warming, encourage adaptation and sustainable development while also supporting the efforts of individuals and organisations providing essential development and humanitarian aid to communities across the world.

The first organisation to receive a donation on behalf of PFC is Medicines Sans Frontiers/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

MSF is an independent humanitarian medical aid agency committed providing emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries. In 1999, MSF was awarded the International Nobel Peace Prize, "in recognition of the organization’s pioneering humanitarian work on several continents." The award honored the work of MSF relief workers bringing medical assistance to people in more than 80 countries over 20 of which are in conflict.

In each country where MSF is working, one or more of four events has taken place. This triggers a medical humanitarian response, and if required, the obligation to speak out to ensure those in need are assisted. The four events are armed conflict, endemic/ epidemic disease, social violence/healthcare exclusion and natural disasters.

“In the past decade MSF have seen a huge increase in the need for their services, we have witnessed an increase in the scale of natural disasters around the world, many as a consequence of climate change. Wherever natural disasters have struck be it in Pakistan, Thailand, or Haiti you will find MSF personal on the front line providing essential humanitarian aid and medical assistance” say Declan Waugh. Populations affected by natural disasters require an immediate medical humanitarian response. They find themselves in desperate conditions, having suddenly lost their homes, material goods, family members and relatives. They are highly traumatized, in need of rapid and diverse medical care and support.

When the news reports about violence or war in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan or Chad, where Irish soldiers are stationed, MSF staff are there helping the local community in whatever way they can. You will find them Gaza, providing essential access to medical aid and life saving surgery while risking the lives of their volunteers to help innocent victims. Some of their staff have been murdered providing this humanitarian service a painful reminder of the sacrifices their staff and families make in undertaking their everyday work.

When it comes to climate change according to Declan Waugh “we must release that actions we take here at home contribute to impacts felt in the poorest of communities across the world. How we live our lives here, will impact on the futures of innocent peoples throughout the world, for this reason each of such has a responsibility to rise to the challenge of sustainability within the political, social, cultural or development or economic dimensions. We are releasing that we live in a new age of limits, both economic and environmental. It is an age requiring a new vision of leadership, a new vision of wealth and a new meaning of happiness.”

PFC is delighted to be in position to support and raise awareness of organisations that provide inspiration to us all through their work and commitment to social justice, providing a vision of citizenship and responsibility in an age of such uncertainty and fear.

Further details of this are available on www.partnershipforchange.ie