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Migrants

Press Release | May 1, 2013

Yemen: Migrants Abused, Tortured by Smugglers

Authorities in Yemen have freed more than a thousand Somali and Ethiopian migrants, many suffering from torture and sexual abuse while forcibly held by human smugglers.

Press Release | March 14, 2013

Morocco: Sharp Increase in Violence Against Migrants

Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are suffering a sharp increase in violence at the hands of security forces in Morocco and at border areas, resulting in serious health problems.

Voice from the Field | December 20, 2012

Migrants In Morocco Stuck At A Dead End

Migrants passing through Morocco in hopes of reaching Europe often find more misery, illness, and injury along the way.

Press Coverage | December 3, 2012

New York Times: African Migrants in Morocco Tell of Abuse

 

Doctors Without Borders is treating Sub-Saharan migrants who face abuse in Morocco as they attempt to travel to Europe.

Field News | September 6, 2012

Assisting Migrants in Greece's Aegean Islands

MSF is providing aid to Syrian and Afghan migrants and asylum-seekers arriving on the Greek islands of Samos, Leros, and Simi.

Voice from the Field | August 9, 2012

Interview: Fighting Neglected Diseases Among Italy's Migrant Populations

MSF is treating migrants in Italy for neglected diseases like tuberculosis and Chagas.

Field News | July 26, 2012

MSF Treats High Numbers of Victims of Violence in Morocco

In the last month MSF teams have treated high numbers of sub-Saharan African migrants who fell victim to violence in Morocco's Oriental region.

Field News | February 28, 2012

Greece: Extreme Weather Conditions Cause Suffering for Migrants in Border Police Stations

Extreme cold and the ongoing waves of new arrivals of migrants are putting pressure on the already fragile reception system in Greece.

Field News | October 7, 2011

MSF Reluctantly Withdraws From Thailand After 35 Years

After months of negotiations and discussions with Thai authorities, it has proved impossible to get permission to provide health care to undocumented migrants and vulnerable populations.

Press Coverage | August 30, 2011

Al Jazeera: Migrants In Libya Camp Claim Rape

Aid workers say they are taking seriously alleged sexual assaults of up to two dozen women at camp for migrant workers.

Press Release | August 30, 2011

Libya: Migrants Trapped in Tripoli Need Aid and Protection

Hundreds of vulnerable migrants and refugees in Tripoli are living in appalling conditions without proper medical care or security.

Briefing Documents | June 30, 2011

Trapped in Transit: The Neglected Victims of the War in Libya

The war in Libya is not only having an impact on Libyan nationals, but also on the 2.5 million migrants who have come there to work or live or are passing through to reach another destination. 

Voice from the Field | June 29, 2011

Tunisia: "In Libya, we were treated like slaves"

Mouhaydin, 27, worked as a laborer and a cleaner in Libya before the war. He arrived at Shousha camp in March with his wife. She died on a boat to Europe in April. 

Press Release | June 15, 2011

Greece: Migrants' Medical Problems Due To Inhumane Detention Conditions

Inhumane living and hygiene conditions in detention facilities in the Evros region in Greece are causing major health problems for migrants and asylum seekers living there, MSF said.

Press Release | May 3, 2011

Italy: Failure to Provide Humane Conditions for Migrants and Refugees

MSF today called on Italian authorities to drastically improve living conditions for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, particularly for the most vulnerable.

Field News | April 12, 2011

Lampedusa, Italy: MSF Provides Medical and Psychological Care to Migrants

At dawn on April 6, around 50 shipwreck survivors received assistance from MSF and other agencies working on Lampedusa.

Voice from the Field | March 4, 2011

Libya: “A Deeply Worrying Situation”

Press Release | January 26, 2011

Greece: Detained Migrants in Unbearable and Inhumane Conditions

MSF medical teams have been assisting detained migrants and asylum seekers and are witnessing a situation that has reached emergency levels.

Press Release | December 13, 2010

Greece: Critical Situation for Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Detention Facilities in Evros Region

As a result of a recent influx of migrants and asylum seekers, detention facilities in Greece are overcrowded and conditions in the cells are appalling.

Press Release | September 30, 2010

Morocco: Expelled Migrants Left in Precarious State

Hundreds of migrants, including women and children, have been deported to a no-man’s land at the border between Morocco and Algeria, abandoned there during the night without food and water.

Briefing Documents | September 8, 2010

Migrants in Malta

For people suffering from psychological trauma as a result of violence, detention, poor living conditions, failed attempts to leave Malta and general uncertainty about the future, being able to access mental health support is crucial.

Briefing Documents | September 8, 2010

Migrants in Morocco

Morocco is a place of transit and forced stay for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

Voice from the Field | September 8, 2010

Postcards from Migrants in Malta and Morocco

MSF is sharing the stories of men and women who left their home countries in search of safety, peace, and decent living conditions.

Press Release | June 17, 2010

Migrants in Detention: Lives on Hold

Athens, June 17, 2010 - Ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today released a report documenting the impact of detention on the wellbeing and mental health of migrants and asylum seekers in detention centers in Greece. MSF urges Greek authorities to ensure humane living conditions for detained migrants, and to consider alternatives to their detention.

Special Report | June 15, 2010

Greece: Lives on Hold

MSF urges the Greek authorities to carefully measure the impact of detention on the well-being of migrants and asylum seekers and to seek alternatives to the detention of new arrivals.

Briefing Documents | May 12, 2010

The Lives of Survival Migrants and Refugees in South Africa

In June 2009, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) released a report, No Refuge, Access Denied, which outlined the severe risks Zimbabweans took in order to cross the border, the dangerous conditions under which they lived once they reached South Africa, and their lackof access to health care.

Special Report | March 26, 2010

Sexual Violence and Migration

This briefing paper highlights the problem of sexual violence against Sub-Saharan migrant women, who arrive in Morocco on their way to Europe.

Press Release | March 25, 2010

Migrant Women en Route to Europe Enduring Sexual Violence

Rabat/Barcelona/New York--March 25, 2010 --Sub-Saharan migrant women are enduring various forms of sexual violence in their countries of origin and while en route to Europe, with many forced to flee their homes because of violent conflict or to escape forced marriages or domestic violence.

Press Release | February 2, 2010

On the Other Side of the Wall: MSF Releases Second Report on Italy’s Detention Centers for Migrants

Rome, February 2, 2010 – More than ten years since Italy’s migrant centers were set up, their management still seems to be conditioned by an emergency type approach. Services seem to have been organized to satisfy only the most basic needs, with no regard for creating acceptable conditions for the psychological and physical well-being of detainees. Since the new regulation came into effect extending the maximum period of detention from two to six months, there have been no planned improvements in the distribution of services to migrant populations.

Press Release | January 12, 2010

Violence in Southern Italy Exposes Extreme Neglect and Exploitation of Seasonal Migrant Workers

Rome, January 12, 2010 - The recent violence in Calabria, Southern Italy, has placed the plight of the region’s seasonal migrant workers in the international spotlight. Following the outburst of violence against the migrant workers, sites where thousands of migrants have been living since November 2009, are now completely empty. MSF denounces the ongoing neglect and exploitation of this vulnerable group.

Press Release | December 17, 2009

MSF Urges European Governments to Respect Life, Dignity and Healthcare of Migrants and Asylum Seekers

Brussels, December 16, 2009 - Asylum seekers and undocumented migrants are bearing the brunt of increasingly restrictive policies which take a toll on their physical and mental health. Escaping conflict, deprivation or widespread violations of human rights, they endure long and dangerous journeys to Europe. Yet when they finally reach Europe, many face prolonged detention, appalling living conditions and a lack of access to healthcare. Others remain trapped outside Europe or are intercepted and sent back to countries where their health and lives may be at risk. Ahead of International Migrants Day, the international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) urges policy makers across Europe to respect the life and dignity of migrants and asylum seekers and improve their access to basic services, including shelter and health care.

Press Release | November 19, 2009

Fears For Migrants Forced Back to Africa

Rome, November 19, 2009 -- New Italian government policies to curb the influx of migrants have led to a sharp decrease in the number of migrants and refugees arriving by boat to Lampedusa, Italy. As a result, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is withdrawing its team from the island. Between May and October 2008, more than 21,000 migrants and refugees landed on Lampedusa after a perilous journey across the Mediterranean, according to MSF. During the same period this year, MSF teams saw fewer than 200 migrants. MSF is extremely concerned for the fate of migrants reportedly intercepted at sea and prevented from arriving in Italy.

Field News | November 9, 2009

Greece: Detention Center Temporarily Closed

The Greek government has announced to temporary close down the Pagani detention center. MSF sees this as a welcome first step towards more humane treatment of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers.

Field News | October 22, 2009

Greece: Migrants’ Living Conditions in Lesvos Detention Center Spark Discontent

It has been more than two months since Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) resumed providing psychosocial support to undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in the Pagani detention center on the island of Lesvos, and the situation continues to be extremely worrying.

Field News | September 29, 2009

Italy: MSF Assists Migrant Workers Living in Appalling Conditions

For the sixth consecutive year, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is providing health care to undocumented seasonal migrant workers in southern Italy. Once again, poor living and working conditions pose a serious threat to their mental and physical health.

Field News | August 24, 2009

Italy: MSF Assists Survivors of Boat Tragedy in Lampedusa

MSF provided medical immediate assistance to the surviving men and woman who were all suffering from serious health problems as a result of the journey to Italy.

Field News | July 17, 2009

Patras, Greece: "All these people have lost their homes and safety overnight"

The demolition of the camp has left all the people who were previously living there homeless. Most of them have lost everything, all their belongings, during the clearing of the camp or the fire.

Press Release | July 13, 2009

MSF Calls For Humane Treatment, Medical Assistance to Migrants Displaced in Greece

Athens, July 13, 2009 — Following yesterday’s police operation at a makeshift camp for migrants in Patras and the subsequent fire that broke out, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) expresses concern for the medical and humanitarian condition of the migrants and asylum seekers who were left homeless, as well as those who were arrested. MSF urges authorities to ensure humane living conditions and the provision of medical assistance to this population.

Field News | July 9, 2009

Patient Story from Malta Detention Center: "Our lives are wasted here"

"So in August we tried one more time. We had been at sea for four days and four nights when our boat broke down. There were about 50 people on board. We were rescued by a Maltese ship and brought to Malta."

Field News | July 9, 2009

Malta: MSF Resumes Activities in Detention Center for Migrants, Asylum-Seekers

MSF has resumed work in Ta’kandja detention center for migrants and asylum-seekers in Malta after authorities committed to enable the provision of effective medical care and to ensure adequate living conditions for detainees. About 60 percent of patients MSF has treated there are from Somalia.

Special Report | July 6, 2009

Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Vulnerable People at Europe's Doorstep

MSF runs emergency medical programs for asylum seekers and migrants on the border shores of a number of countries, calls for minimum standards in their reception, and denounces their systematic detention.

Field News | April 27, 2009

Lampedusa, Italy: MSF Medical Team Resumes Assistance to Migrants

An MSF team consisting of two doctors, two nurses and one cultural mediator is back in Lampedusa, providing medical care to undocumented migrants and asylum seekers landing on the Italian island.

Press Release | July 11, 2008

EU Mediterranean Summit: MSF Calls on Participants to Improve Conditions for Migrants Arriving on Europe's Southern Shores

Brussels, July 11, 2008 — As the launch of the Union for the Mediterranean is due this Sunday at the Paris EU Summit, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls on all participants to urgently improve reception conditions for migrants reaching the southern shores of Europe.

Special Report | June 26, 2008

NO CHOICE: Somali and Ethiopian Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants Crossing The Gulf of Aden

Thousands of people risk their lives every year to cross the Gulf of Aden to escape from conflict, violence, drought and poverty. 

Press Release | June 19, 2008

Somali and Ethiopian Migrants Face Violence in Waters Off Yemen

Madrid, June 19, 2008 — Thousands of Somalis and Ethiopians risk their lives every year to cross the Gulf of Aden to escape from conflict and extreme poverty. The trip is fraught with danger, as people are exposed to violence from smugglers and receive little assistance upon their arrival in Yemen.

Field News | May 20, 2008

MSF Treats Victims of Violence Against Migrants in Johannesburg

In response to recent outbreaks of violence against migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa, MSF is currently providing emergency medical care for wounded people seeking shelter in police stations, community halls, and other locations to which they have fled for safety.

Press Release | December 5, 2007

Angolan Government must put an end to the abuses committed by its army against Congolese migrants during their expulsion from the country

Johannesburg/Brussels/Kinshasa, December 5th, 2007 – The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) denounces the pervasive and systematic use of rape and violence perpetrated by the Angolan army during the expulsions of Congolese migrants working in diamond mines in the Angolan province of Lunda Norte.