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Aid work 'increasingly hazardous' Aid work 'increasingly hazardous'
(about 5 hours later)
Aid agencies are struggling to help those most in need as operating environments become increasingly hazardous, a medical charity said.Aid agencies are struggling to help those most in need as operating environments become increasingly hazardous, a medical charity said.
In a list of "top 10" humanitarian crises, Medecins Sans Frontieres said conditions in Somalia, DR Congo and Sudan were particularly challenging.In a list of "top 10" humanitarian crises, Medecins Sans Frontieres said conditions in Somalia, DR Congo and Sudan were particularly challenging.
Threats in Somalia and Pakistan had forced MSF to limit its work, it said.Threats in Somalia and Pakistan had forced MSF to limit its work, it said.
Fighting in Sudan's Darfur region and in DR Congo had also left it unable to reach vulnerable populations, it said.Fighting in Sudan's Darfur region and in DR Congo had also left it unable to reach vulnerable populations, it said.
Nicolas de Torrente, director of MSF-USA, told the BBC that the list, published annually, aimed to focus attention on places where people were suffering most. Nicolas de Torrente, director of MSF-USA, told the BBC that the list, published annually, aimed to focus attention on places where people were suffering most. MSF's TOP 10 CRISES Somalia; Violence is worsening and healthcare has collapsedDR Congo and Pakistan; Fighting in eastern DRC and north-west Pakistan has left many displacedSudan; Darfur violence continues; aid is badly needed in Southern SudanEthiopia's Somali region: Fighting has isolated population from services and aidBurma and Zimbabwe; Government neglect and economic chaos are worsening health crisesIraq; Aid is needed but agencies have been targeted for attackGlobal; Malnutrition kills millions of children each year, while tuberculosis is increasingly threatening those with HIV/Aids class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7794918.stm">AU meets for Somalia crisis talks
MSF's TOP 10 CRISES Somalia; Violence is worsening and healthcare has collapsedDR Congo and Pakistan; Fighting in eastern DRC and north-west Pakistan has left many displacedSudan; Darfur violence continues; aid is badly needed in Southern SudanEthiopia's Somali region: Fighting has isolated population from services and aidBurma and Zimbabwe; Government neglect and economic chaos are worsening health crisesIraq; Aid is needed but agencies have been targeted for attackGlobal; Malnutrition kills millions of children each year, while tuberculosis is increasingly threatening those with HIV/Aids AU meets for Somalia crisis talks
"The issue for us is how to reach these people and how to try to provide them with meaningful assistance and there we find that there are many obstacles," he said."The issue for us is how to reach these people and how to try to provide them with meaningful assistance and there we find that there are many obstacles," he said.
"Governments don't want us to be present - they fear the exposure that comes with that. They want to deny assistance to these populations and, increasingly, we see attacks, directed attacks, against aid workers.""Governments don't want us to be present - they fear the exposure that comes with that. They want to deny assistance to these populations and, increasingly, we see attacks, directed attacks, against aid workers."
In Somalia, MSF said, attacks and threats against aid workers had forced it to curtail its operations, significantly reducing what it could offer an already weakened population.In Somalia, MSF said, attacks and threats against aid workers had forced it to curtail its operations, significantly reducing what it could offer an already weakened population.
The same thing had occurred in north-west Pakistan, MSF said, rending it less able to assist those fleeing the fighting there.The same thing had occurred in north-west Pakistan, MSF said, rending it less able to assist those fleeing the fighting there.
In eastern DR Congo, fighting had left many areas too dangerous for aid workers, even though people were in desperate need of help - a situation that was repeated in the Sudanese region of Darfur.In eastern DR Congo, fighting had left many areas too dangerous for aid workers, even though people were in desperate need of help - a situation that was repeated in the Sudanese region of Darfur.
The charity also flagged up health crises in both Burma and Zimbabwe.The charity also flagged up health crises in both Burma and Zimbabwe.
In Burma, it said, hundreds of thousands of people were dying from Aids because the government was failing to act.In Burma, it said, hundreds of thousands of people were dying from Aids because the government was failing to act.
In Zimbabwe, soaring inflation had left many HIV/Aids patients without even the bus fare needed to visit a clinic, it added.In Zimbabwe, soaring inflation had left many HIV/Aids patients without even the bus fare needed to visit a clinic, it added.
Other crisis included in the MSF list were childhood malnutrition around the world and an aid deficit in Iraq. Other crises included in the MSF list were childhood malnutrition around the world and an aid deficit in Iraq.