MSF suspends activities in Kismayo

The humanitarian relief NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is to officially hand over management and responsibility of Kismayo hospital to the Regional Health Board on Tuesday, 30 November, after suspending its operations in the area due to sustained insecurity, a press release from the agency stated on Friday. MSF said that, with insecurity preventing the return of expatriate staff evacuated in June amid deteriorating conditions, it could no longer fulfill its “fundamental principle of guaranteeing the quality of healthcare through direct supervision” and had to suspend its activities in Kismayo. MSF would continue to supply the hospital with a monthly emergency supply of drugs and medical material, “depending on healthcare to and security of the patients, staff and hospital structure”, and looked forward to a rapid return to Kismayo when the security situation allowed, its press release stated. Over 2,000 people demonstrated against the insecurity that led MSF to withdraw, and militia leaders promised protestors they would guarantee security for humanitarian agencies in Kismayo, the Somali newspaper ‘Ayaamaha’ reported on Tuesday.