<h2>How AI is helping treat ALS, alzheimer’s, and dementia</h2>Early diagnosis through data Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping doctors detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, and dementia much earlier than before. By using machine learning and deep learning, AI can analyse a large amount of patient data to predict disease risks years in advance, giving people a better chance at early treatment.&nbsp;In ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), diagnosis usually takes time as doctors must first rule out other conditions. This can lead to delays in treatment. But now, AI can study speech patterns, motor skills, and how a person walks to detect small changes that doctors may not notice at first. This speeds up the diagnosis and allows earlier treatment.&nbsp;AI also helps identify signs of ALS in patients with no previous record of the disease. This means faster diagnosis and better results for patients.<h2>Predicting alzheimer’s before symptoms start</h2>Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a method using machine learning to predict Alzheimer’s disease up to seven years before symptoms appear. By studying electronic health records, the system looks at risk factors such as high cholesterol, depression, and vitamin D deficiency.&nbsp;This prediction model has a 72 per cent success rate, allowing patients to begin lifestyle changes or try early treatments, which may slow down the disease’s progression.<h2>Understanding dementia with AI</h2>Dementia includes many conditions such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. These conditions are affected by genetics, environment, and background. AI helps researchers understand the complex patterns by studying large amounts of medical data.&nbsp;AI also finds new genetic risk factors, helping scientists discover better treatment options. According to the NIH’s Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, AI tools are making it easier to understand how different forms of dementia are connected.<h2>Robots and AI in caregiving</h2>AI is not just helping doctors, but it’s also supporting care at home. AI-powered robots are being tested to help people with dementia in their daily lives. These tools can remind patients about medicines, help in emergencies, and support independent living.&nbsp;Such developments may ease pressure on families and improve the patient’s quality of life.&nbsp;

AI is helping doctors detect Alzheimer's and dementia earlier. It analyzes data, predicts risks, and supports care with robots. Early detection means faster treatment, better care, and improved quality of life for patients and families.


How AI is helping treat ALS, alzheimer’s, and dementia Early diagnosis through data Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping doctors detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, and dementia much earlier than before. By using machine learning and deep learning, AI can analyse a large amount of patient data to predict disease risks years in advance, giving people a better chance at early treatment. In ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), diagnosis usually takes time as doctors must first rule out other conditions. This can lead to delays in treatment. But now, AI can study speech patterns, motor skills, and how a person walks to detect small changes that doctors may not notice at first. This speeds up the diagnosis and allows earlier treatment. AI also helps identify signs of ALS in patients with no previous record of the disease. This means faster diagnosis and better results for patients. Predicting alzheimer’s before symptoms start Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a method using machine learning to predict Alzheimer’s disease up to seven years before symptoms appear. By studying electronic health records, the system looks at risk factors such as high cholesterol, depression, and vitamin D deficiency. This prediction model has a 72 per cent success rate, allowing patients to begin lifestyle changes or try early treatments, which may slow down the disease’s progression. Understanding dementia with AI Dementia includes many conditions such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. These conditions are affected by genetics, environment, and background. AI helps researchers understand the complex patterns by studying large amounts of medical data. AI also finds new genetic risk factors, helping scientists discover better treatment options. According to the NIH’s Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, AI tools are making it easier to understand how different forms of dementia are connected. Robots and AI in caregiving AI is not just helping doctors, but it’s also supporting care at home. AI-powered robots are being tested to help people with dementia in their daily lives. These tools can remind patients about medicines, help in emergencies, and support independent living. Such developments may ease pressure on families and improve the patient’s quality of life.

AI is helping doctors detect Alzheimer's and dementia earlier. It analyzes data, predicts risks, and supports care with robots. Early detection means faster treatment, better care, and improved quality of life for patients and families.

AI can now predict Alzheimer's years before symptoms appear! Here’s how

In a scathing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5yFJ1CjZYE&amp;t=245s">interview with the BBC</a>, a pediatrician, Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan, criticised the BBC's coverage of the Gaza conflict and retracing the narrative of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). While emphasising the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Dr Tanya called the supposed explanation given by the IDF for repeatedly targeting hospitals in Gaza as "preposterous".&nbsp;She seemed visibly distressed while speaking to the host, “Every 35 of 36 hospitals have been targeted in Gaza. The hospital I was working in, the same hospital Dr Alaa was working in, was hit by a drone while I was working there, killing two patients and injuring others."She was emphasising the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, specifically the suffering of civilians and children. She criticised the reporting of the BBC for echoing the IDF's narrative, lacking critical analysis and for adequate representation of the Palestinian perspective."You don't ask the perpetrator of Genocide", said Dr Hasan, who has recently returned from Gaza, working with Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders. She narrated how her colleague, Dr Alaa al-Najjar, went to work and her family was bombed at home in Khan Younis area, killing 9 out of her 10 children. Only one of her children and her husband, who was also a Doctor, survived sustaining critical injury.&nbsp;Dr. Najjar described the health care system as in collapse, “She called me left me in tears, saying that the ICU is full…she says the terror is all night, and all day, continuous fear…. we miss our loved ones we do not even know how to grieve… because we do not have time to grieve. The pediatric ICU unit is full, it breaks your heart, all these small children, what is their crime?….orphaned children, maimed children, children who were the sole survivor of their family… "She continued agitatedly that every single credible humanitarian and human rights organisation, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, International Court of Justice have all been saying that these bombings are consistent with genocide. How can the BBC give airtime to these "preposterous" justifications by an Israeli spokesperson after the consistent bombing of 19 months?&nbsp;BBC has recently delayed the airing of a documentary, “Gaza: Medics Under Fire”, a documentary completed, cleared for Broadcast in February 2025. It was shelved following the allegation that another documentary, ‘Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’, was being narrated by the son of a Hamas official. Doctors, whistleblowers who have participated in the documentary have threatened to withdraw their consent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a powerful BBC interview, Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan criticises the broadcaster for mirroring Israeli narratives and failing to represent the Palestinian perspective amid the Gaza crisis. She recounts harrowing scenes from Gaza’s hospitals and condemns the delayed airing of a crucial documentary.

In a scathing interview with the BBC, a pediatrician, Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan, criticised the BBC's coverage of the Gaza conflict and retracing the narrative of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). While emphasising the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Dr Tanya called the supposed explanation given by the IDF for repeatedly targeting hospitals in Gaza as "preposterous". She seemed visibly distressed while speaking to the host, “Every 35 of 36 hospitals have been targeted in Gaza. The hospital I was working in, the same hospital Dr Alaa was working in, was hit by a drone while I was working there, killing two patients and injuring others." She was emphasising the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, specifically the suffering of civilians and children. She criticised the reporting of the BBC for echoing the IDF's narrative, lacking critical analysis and for adequate representation of the Palestinian perspective. "You don't ask the perpetrator of Genocide", said Dr Hasan, who has recently returned from Gaza, working with Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders. She narrated how her colleague, Dr Alaa al-Najjar, went to work and her family was bombed at home in Khan Younis area, killing 9 out of her 10 children. Only one of her children and her husband, who was also a Doctor, survived sustaining critical injury. Dr. Najjar described the health care system as in collapse, “She called me left me in tears, saying that the ICU is full…she says the terror is all night, and all day, continuous fear…. we miss our loved ones we do not even know how to grieve… because we do not have time to grieve. The pediatric ICU unit is full, it breaks your heart, all these small children, what is their crime?….orphaned children, maimed children, children who were the sole survivor of their family… " She continued agitatedly that every single credible humanitarian and human rights organisation, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, International Court of Justice have all been saying that these bombings are consistent with genocide. How can the BBC give airtime to these "preposterous" justifications by an Israeli spokesperson after the consistent bombing of 19 months? BBC has recently delayed the airing of a documentary, “Gaza: Medics Under Fire”, a documentary completed, cleared for Broadcast in February 2025. It was shelved following the allegation that another documentary, ‘Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’, was being narrated by the son of a Hamas official. Doctors, whistleblowers who have participated in the documentary have threatened to withdraw their consent.

In a powerful BBC interview, Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan criticises the BBC for mirroring Israeli narratives and failing to represent the Palestinian perspective amid the Gaza crisis. She recounts harrowing scenes from Gaza’s hospitals and condemns the delayed airing of a crucial documentary.

Doctor calls out BBC for giving air time to 'preposterous' Israeli justification after 19 months of persistence bombing

An international medical humanitarian organisation Doctor without Borders has slammed Brazil government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid group has said that the authorities have not taken the disease seriously enough in the country.

Brazil govt's negligence of COVID-19 causing humanitarian catastrophe

The organisation running a charity ship in the Mediterranean voiced hope Wednesday for a safe port for its 356 rescued migrants after another NGO vessel docked in Italy, ending a week-long standoff.

The Ocean Viking operated by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-sends-warship-to-pick-up-migrants-off-italys-coast-244491">French charities SOS </a>Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been holding its position for 10 days between Malta and Lampedusa, asking for a safe port.

"As maritime law stipulates, we've been asking Italian and Maltese search and rescue coordination centres for a safe port since we made our first rescue on August 9," said Frederic Penard, head of operations for SOS Mediterranee.

"For the time being we've had no reply from Italy and a rather negative one from Malta," he said.

The crew have been at pains not to relate the travails of the Open Arms charity rescue vessel which finally disembarked its 83 migrants on Italy's Lampedusa island overnight Tuesday.

They were allowed to disembark after a local prosecutor ordered the ship seized as part of a probe into far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for preventing the ship docking.

Many had been on the Open Arms for 19 days.

The Ocean Viking crew did not want a repeat of scenes aboard the Open Arms which saw desperate migrants jumping into the sea in the hope of swimming to Lampedusa, although word has now spread that that ship has docked.

"We know that several European states want to end these ad hoc solutions and set up a system" to handle migrants," said Penard.

"That's what we're asking for but these people must disembark now: you can't have negotiations when you've got more than 300 people trapped at sea in difficult conditions."

Malta at the last minute blocked the vessel from approaching to take water and fuel, so the Ocean Viking and those on board are trying to consume as little as possible.

Many of those on board have fled war zones or been tortured and abused in Libya.

"Not only are these people continuing to suffer from a prolonged sea journey, but others will continue to die because we're prevented from continuing our rescue operations," said MSF's head of mission in Libya, Sam Turner.

According to the Libyan coastguard, "around half of the boats which set off are lost at sea, meaning hundreds of people are disappearing without a trace", said Turner.

 
&nbsp;

The organisation running a charity ship in the Mediterranean voiced hope Wednesday for a safe port for its 356 rescued migrants after another NGO vessel docked in Italy, ending a week-long standoff.

The organisation running a charity ship in the Mediterranean voiced hope Wednesday for a safe port for its 356 rescued migrants after another NGO vessel docked in Italy, ending a week-long standoff. The Ocean Viking operated by French charities SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been holding its position for 10 days between Malta and Lampedusa, asking for a safe port. "As maritime law stipulates, we've been asking Italian and Maltese search and rescue coordination centres for a safe port since we made our first rescue on August 9," said Frederic Penard, head of operations for SOS Mediterranee. "For the time being we've had no reply from Italy and a rather negative one from Malta," he said. The crew have been at pains not to relate the travails of the Open Arms charity rescue vessel which finally disembarked its 83 migrants on Italy's Lampedusa island overnight Tuesday. They were allowed to disembark after a local prosecutor ordered the ship seized as part of a probe into far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for preventing the ship docking. Many had been on the Open Arms for 19 days. The Ocean Viking crew did not want a repeat of scenes aboard the Open Arms which saw desperate migrants jumping into the sea in the hope of swimming to Lampedusa, although word has now spread that that ship has docked. "We know that several European states want to end these ad hoc solutions and set up a system" to handle migrants," said Penard. "That's what we're asking for but these people must disembark now: you can't have negotiations when you've got more than 300 people trapped at sea in difficult conditions." Malta at the last minute blocked the vessel from approaching to take water and fuel, so the Ocean Viking and those on board are trying to consume as little as possible. Many of those on board have fled war zones or been tortured and abused in Libya. "Not only are these people continuing to suffer from a prolonged sea journey, but others will continue to die because we're prevented from continuing our rescue operations," said MSF's head of mission in Libya, Sam Turner. According to the Libyan coastguard, "around half of the boats which set off are lost at sea, meaning hundreds of people are disappearing without a trace", said Turner.

Charity ship seeks port for 356 rescued migrants in the Mediterranean

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared an epidemic of measles which may have killed 1,500 people, according to statistical analysis.

"We have been seeing an increase in the number of suspected cases of measles since the start of the year, with a total of 87,000 suspected cases" reported by mid-May, Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga said Monday.

"Mortality is estimated at 1.8 per cent," he said.

This rate translates to about 1,500 deaths, the health ministry and aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) estimated.

The minister said medical teams had found cases of measles in 23 out of 26 provinces in the vast central African country.

He announced a renewed, large-scale vaccination programme to try to counter the outbreak.

In April, 2.24 million children aged between six months and 59 months were vaccinated over four days and another immunisation campaign covering 1.4 million children will be launched "in the coming days," Kalenga said.

"Vaccination is the only public health intervention that is capable of putting an end to the measles epidemic," he added in a statement.

"To stop the chain of measles transmission and prevent future epidemics, at least 95 per cent of the population" must be vaccinated, said the minister.

A nation the size of continental western Europe, the DRC is also struggling to contain an outbreak of deadly Ebola disease in two eastern provinces.

A total of 1,384 lives have been lost since August 1, according to an official tally.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared an epidemic of measles which may have killed 1,500 people, according to statistical analysis.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared an epidemic of measles which may have killed 1,500 people, according to statistical analysis. "We have been seeing an increase in the number of suspected cases of measles since the start of the year, with a total of 87,000 suspected cases" reported by mid-May, Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga said Monday. "Mortality is estimated at 1.8 per cent," he said. This rate translates to about 1,500 deaths, the health ministry and aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) estimated. The minister said medical teams had found cases of measles in 23 out of 26 provinces in the vast central African country. He announced a renewed, large-scale vaccination programme to try to counter the outbreak. In April, 2.24 million children aged between six months and 59 months were vaccinated over four days and another immunisation campaign covering 1.4 million children will be launched "in the coming days," Kalenga said. "Vaccination is the only public health intervention that is capable of putting an end to the measles epidemic," he added in a statement. "To stop the chain of measles transmission and prevent future epidemics, at least 95 per cent of the population" must be vaccinated, said the minister. A nation the size of continental western Europe, the DRC is also struggling to contain an outbreak of deadly Ebola disease in two eastern provinces. A total of 1,384 lives have been lost since August 1, according to an official tally.

DR Congo fears 1,500 dead from measles epidemic

Fierce fighting for control of Libya's capital that has already displaced tens of thousands of people threatens to bring a further worsening of humanitarian conditions, a senior UN official has warned.

"As long as the situation continues, even if it just stagnates and continues like this, we can expect to see a continuing deterioration," UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya Maria do Valle Ribeiro told AFP.

Strongman Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive against Tripoli, the seat of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), on April 4.

"When we see the use of air power, the indiscriminate shelling of densely populated areas, it is very difficult to be optimistic," do Valle Ribeiro, who is also the deputy UN envoy to Libya, said late Sunday.

She was speaking after air raids by the LNA on Tripoli on Saturday killed four people and wounded 20 others, according to the GNA.

"We continue to call for a respect of civilians, we continue to call for humanitarian pauses and most of all we continue to hope that the situation can return to a more peaceful settlement of the crisis," she said.

The fighting has killed at least 278 people and wounded more than 1,300, according to a toll released Wednesday by the World Health Organization.

It has also forced 41,000 people to flee combat areas around Tripoli, do Valle Ribeiro said, while many remain trapped and in need of humanitarian assistance.

Migrants at risk

Among the most vulnerable are about 3,500 migrants and refugees held in detention centres near the combat zone who are at "risk", the UN official said.

She said that 800 considered most in danger had been evacuated after the UN and rights groups said gunmen attacked a detention centre south of Tripoli last week.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said several migrants and refugees were shot and wounded in the attack.

Libya has been mired in chaos since the NATO-backed uprising that deposed and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

People smugglers have taken advantage of the lawlessness, ferrying mostly sub-Saharan Africans from Libyan shores to Europe.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, some 6,000 migrants are held in official detention centres in Libya. Hundreds more are held by armed groups elsewhere in the war-hit country.

On Sunday Pope Francis called for "humanitarian corridors" to be opened to evacuate them.

The UN official also voiced concern over a breakdown in basic services, including electricity and water supplies, and said more relief funds were needed for Libya.

"We appealed for an additional 10.2 million (dollars) which doesn't cover all that we foresee... but it covers at least the essential response for the first three, four weeks," she said.

During the first week of fighting, she said, "over a million schoolbooks" that were stored in a warehouse of the ministry of education were destroyed when the compound was hit.&nbsp;

"Symbolically, it says a lot about the impact of such strife and clashes on not just the immediate survival of people but on the future of Tripoli children."

Fierce fighting for control of Libya's capital that has already displaced tens of thousands of people threatens to bring a further worsening of humanitarian conditions, a senior UN official has warned.

Fierce fighting for control of Libya's capital that has already displaced tens of thousands of people threatens to bring a further worsening of humanitarian conditions, a senior UN official has warned. "As long as the situation continues, even if it just stagnates and continues like this, we can expect to see a continuing deterioration," UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya Maria do Valle Ribeiro told AFP. Strongman Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive against Tripoli, the seat of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), on April 4. "When we see the use of air power, the indiscriminate shelling of densely populated areas, it is very difficult to be optimistic," do Valle Ribeiro, who is also the deputy UN envoy to Libya, said late Sunday. She was speaking after air raids by the LNA on Tripoli on Saturday killed four people and wounded 20 others, according to the GNA. "We continue to call for a respect of civilians, we continue to call for humanitarian pauses and most of all we continue to hope that the situation can return to a more peaceful settlement of the crisis," she said. The fighting has killed at least 278 people and wounded more than 1,300, according to a toll released Wednesday by the World Health Organization. It has also forced 41,000 people to flee combat areas around Tripoli, do Valle Ribeiro said, while many remain trapped and in need of humanitarian assistance. Migrants at risk Among the most vulnerable are about 3,500 migrants and refugees held in detention centres near the combat zone who are at "risk", the UN official said. She said that 800 considered most in danger had been evacuated after the UN and rights groups said gunmen attacked a detention centre south of Tripoli last week. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said several migrants and refugees were shot and wounded in the attack. Libya has been mired in chaos since the NATO-backed uprising that deposed and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. People smugglers have taken advantage of the lawlessness, ferrying mostly sub-Saharan Africans from Libyan shores to Europe. According to the International Organisation for Migration, some 6,000 migrants are held in official detention centres in Libya. Hundreds more are held by armed groups elsewhere in the war-hit country. On Sunday Pope Francis called for "humanitarian corridors" to be opened to evacuate them. The UN official also voiced concern over a breakdown in basic services, including electricity and water supplies, and said more relief funds were needed for Libya. "We appealed for an additional 10.2 million (dollars) which doesn't cover all that we foresee... but it covers at least the essential response for the first three, four weeks," she said. During the first week of fighting, she said, "over a million schoolbooks" that were stored in a warehouse of the ministry of education were destroyed when the compound was hit. "Symbolically, it says a lot about the impact of such strife and clashes on not just the immediate survival of people but on the future of Tripoli children."

United Nations warns of worsening humanitarian situation in Libya

Haiti`s president said on Friday that sexual misconduct by staff of British charity Oxfam was only the tip of an &quot;iceberg&quot; and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders and other aid organizations which came to the country after its 2010 earthquake.

&quot;The Oxfam case is the visible part of the iceberg,&quot; President Jovenel Moise said in a phone interview with Reuters on Friday. &quot;It is not only Oxfam, there are other NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in the same situation, but they hide the information internally.&quot;

The scandal has already shaken the aid sector, with Britain and the European Union reviewing Oxfam&rsquo;s funding.

Oxfam, one of the world`s biggest disaster relief charities, apologised this week for unspecified sexual misconduct uncovered in a 2011 internal investigation. It has neither confirmed nor denied a recent Times of London report that some of its staff paid for sex with prostitutes.

&quot;There should be an investigation into other organizations that have been working here since 2010,&quot; said Moise. &quot;For example, Doctors Without Borders had to repatriate about 17 people for misconduct which was not explained,&quot; he added.

It was not clear what cases Moise was referring to.

Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders, known as Medecins Sans Frontieres in non-English speaking countries, is looking into Moise`s comments and welcomes scrutiny on the aid sector, said spokeswoman Analia Lorenzo. She added that the organization had zero tolerance of sexual misconduct.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders, which sends medical staff around the world to regions stricken with war and disease, said it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result. It did not provide details of where the harassment or abuse took place, who was dismissed or whether the complaints were also registered with local law enforcement.

`MISTAKES`&nbsp;

Roland Van Hauwermeiren, the former Oxfam official at the center of the sex abuse scandal, said on Thursday he made mistakes by having a sexual relationship with the sister of a recipient of aid when working in Haiti but denied paying for sex with prostitutes or abusing minors.

In an open letter to a broadcaster in his native Belgium, he said he feared that Oxfam, other aid workers and those they help would suffer from false accusations.

&quot;We call on the Belgian and UK government to assume their responsibility, and we call on the whole international community to help make sure those guilty of such misconduct are punished, whether they are Belgian or of another nationality,&quot; Moise said. &quot;The dignity of the Haitian people has been trampled on.&quot;

Haitian Justice Minister Heidi Fortune told Reuters on Wednesday he had asked Belgium for help in starting legal action against Van Hauwermeiren. He did not say which laws he believed were broken. 
Belgium`s Justice Ministry said on Thursday it had received no such request and prosecutors said they were not aware of any investigation into Van Hauwermeiren. Belgium does not extradite its citizens to countries outside the European Union.

Prostitution is a crime in Haiti, but it was not clear what other crimes the Oxfam officials may have committed.

He called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders

Haiti`s president said on Friday that sexual misconduct by staff of British charity Oxfam was only the tip of an "iceberg" and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders and other aid organizations which came to the country after its 2010 earthquake. "The Oxfam case is the visible part of the iceberg," President Jovenel Moise said in a phone interview with Reuters on Friday. "It is not only Oxfam, there are other NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in the same situation, but they hide the information internally." The scandal has already shaken the aid sector, with Britain and the European Union reviewing Oxfam’s funding. Oxfam, one of the world`s biggest disaster relief charities, apologised this week for unspecified sexual misconduct uncovered in a 2011 internal investigation. It has neither confirmed nor denied a recent Times of London report that some of its staff paid for sex with prostitutes. "There should be an investigation into other organizations that have been working here since 2010," said Moise. "For example, Doctors Without Borders had to repatriate about 17 people for misconduct which was not explained," he added. It was not clear what cases Moise was referring to. Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders, known as Medecins Sans Frontieres in non-English speaking countries, is looking into Moise`s comments and welcomes scrutiny on the aid sector, said spokeswoman Analia Lorenzo. She added that the organization had zero tolerance of sexual misconduct. On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders, which sends medical staff around the world to regions stricken with war and disease, said it had dealt with 24 cases of sexual harassment or abuse among its 40,000 staff last year, and dismissed 19 people as a result. It did not provide details of where the harassment or abuse took place, who was dismissed or whether the complaints were also registered with local law enforcement. `MISTAKES` Roland Van Hauwermeiren, the former Oxfam official at the center of the sex abuse scandal, said on Thursday he made mistakes by having a sexual relationship with the sister of a recipient of aid when working in Haiti but denied paying for sex with prostitutes or abusing minors. In an open letter to a broadcaster in his native Belgium, he said he feared that Oxfam, other aid workers and those they help would suffer from false accusations. "We call on the Belgian and UK government to assume their responsibility, and we call on the whole international community to help make sure those guilty of such misconduct are punished, whether they are Belgian or of another nationality," Moise said. "The dignity of the Haitian people has been trampled on." Haitian Justice Minister Heidi Fortune told Reuters on Wednesday he had asked Belgium for help in starting legal action against Van Hauwermeiren. He did not say which laws he believed were broken. Belgium`s Justice Ministry said on Thursday it had received no such request and prosecutors said they were not aware of any investigation into Van Hauwermeiren. Belgium does not extradite its citizens to countries outside the European Union. Prostitution is a crime in Haiti, but it was not clear what other crimes the Oxfam officials may have committed.

Haiti president says many aid organizations hid misconduct

Intense fighting in the Central African Republic killed at least 40 people Tuesday and injured dozens more, dashing hopes for stability in the strife-torn country the day after the signing of a ceasefire deal.

The violence in the central town of Bria was between members of Christian &#39;anti-balaka&#39; militias and fighters formerly belonging to a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka, aid and security sources said.

The clashes erupted after the CAR government and rebel groups agreed to an immediate ceasefire Monday, a deal brokered by the Catholic community Sant&#39;Egidio in five days of negotiations in Rome.

It was hailed as a precious chance to stabilise one of the world&#39;s most volatile and poorest countries.

Under the agreement, armed groups were granted political representation in exchange for an end to attacks and blockades.

However, intense shooting began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with dozens taken to hospital suffering from bullet wounds, Mumuza Muhindo Musubaho, project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the CAR town of Bria, said in a statement.

As of 2100 GMT, 43 people were injured, according to the charity.

&quot;We counted at least one dead and 20 wounded among our troops, who were taken care of by the NGOs&quot;, said Djamil Babanani, spokesman for the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC), an armed rebel group formerly belonging to the Muslim Seleka coalition, which had signed Monday&#39;s peace accord.&nbsp;

&quot;We signed the agreement, but we have to defend ourselves, we can&#39;t allow an attack to happen without reacting,&quot; added Babanani.

&quot;People are at home since (early Tuesday morning), shooting was still going on this morning, there is no activity going on today,&quot; said Father Gildas of the Catholic mission Saint-Louis de Bria, by telephone.

Sporadic fighting has continued since Saturday between Christian &#39;anti-balaka&#39; militias and the FPRC after its leader Hamad Issa was killed in the town, according to several sources.&nbsp;

&quot;We know that much remains to be done. It is vital that the ceasefire agreed to by the parties is carried out immediately,&quot; said UN special representative on CAR, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga.

Battling between armed groups in the Bria area from May 15 to 18 left five people dead, 29 wounded and more than 40,000 others displaced, according to the UN.

Clashes in Bria, Alindao, Bangassou and Mobaye, east of the capital Bangui, resulted in a total of around 300 dead and 200 wounded, according to the UN&#39;s humanitarian coordination agency OCHA.

(AFP)

Dozens more were injured, dashing hopes for stability in the strife-torn country

Intense fighting in the Central African Republic killed at least 40 people Tuesday and injured dozens more, dashing hopes for stability in the strife-torn country the day after the signing of a ceasefire deal. The violence in the central town of Bria was between members of Christian 'anti-balaka' militias and fighters formerly belonging to a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka, aid and security sources said. The clashes erupted after the CAR government and rebel groups agreed to an immediate ceasefire Monday, a deal brokered by the Catholic community Sant'Egidio in five days of negotiations in Rome. It was hailed as a precious chance to stabilise one of the world's most volatile and poorest countries. Under the agreement, armed groups were granted political representation in exchange for an end to attacks and blockades. However, intense shooting began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with dozens taken to hospital suffering from bullet wounds, Mumuza Muhindo Musubaho, project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the CAR town of Bria, said in a statement. As of 2100 GMT, 43 people were injured, according to the charity. "We counted at least one dead and 20 wounded among our troops, who were taken care of by the NGOs", said Djamil Babanani, spokesman for the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC), an armed rebel group formerly belonging to the Muslim Seleka coalition, which had signed Monday's peace accord. "We signed the agreement, but we have to defend ourselves, we can't allow an attack to happen without reacting," added Babanani. "People are at home since (early Tuesday morning), shooting was still going on this morning, there is no activity going on today," said Father Gildas of the Catholic mission Saint-Louis de Bria, by telephone. Sporadic fighting has continued since Saturday between Christian 'anti-balaka' militias and the FPRC after its leader Hamad Issa was killed in the town, according to several sources. "We know that much remains to be done. It is vital that the ceasefire agreed to by the parties is carried out immediately," said UN special representative on CAR, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga. Battling between armed groups in the Bria area from May 15 to 18 left five people dead, 29 wounded and more than 40,000 others displaced, according to the UN. Clashes in Bria, Alindao, Bangassou and Mobaye, east of the capital Bangui, resulted in a total of around 300 dead and 200 wounded, according to the UN's humanitarian coordination agency OCHA. (AFP)

At least 40 killed in Central African Republic day after ceasefire agreed: Aid source

Almost 2,500 boat migrants were rescued in the past three days, the Italian Coast Guard said on Thursday, as this year&#39;s arrivals already far outpace the record-setting 2016.

Some 1,100 were plucked from nine flimsy vessels off the coast of Libya on Thursday, the Coast Guard said, after a total of 1,360 were picked up the two preceding days.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 10,700 sea arrivals, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday, a third higher than the same period last year.

&quot;The situation is more dramatic than ever,&quot; said Mathilde Auvillain, a spokeswoman on board the Aquarius, a rescue ship run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF).&nbsp;

Last year a record 181,000 boat migrants reached Italy and more than 5,000 died in the Mediterranean. Since 2015, more than a million-and-a-half migrants have flooded into Europe.

To stop the flow, Italy and the European Union earlier this month pledged to fund migrant camps in Libya run by the U.N.-backed government, and to supply equipment and training for the fight against people smugglers.

But humanitarian groups including SOS Mediterranee and MSF have criticised the deal, saying Libya is not safe.

&quot;In Libya, the police tells you they will deport you back to your country, but they don&#39;t,&quot; said Collins, 27, from Benin City, Nigeria, according to comments made to the Aquarius crew on Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;

&quot;They just sell you to someone else. You cannot trust anybody in Libya, you never know if they are police or gangsters,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Youssef from Gambia said that since the signing of the EU-Libya migrants have heard that the sea journey may soon be shut down.

&quot;I heard that they will close this route in one month, I&#39;m very worried about my people, the blacks, who are still there in Libya. The situation is terrible,&quot; he said.

(Reuters)

Since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 10,700 sea arrivals, the country's interior ministry said on Thursday

Almost 2,500 boat migrants were rescued in the past three days, the Italian Coast Guard said on Thursday, as this year's arrivals already far outpace the record-setting 2016. Some 1,100 were plucked from nine flimsy vessels off the coast of Libya on Thursday, the Coast Guard said, after a total of 1,360 were picked up the two preceding days. Since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 10,700 sea arrivals, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday, a third higher than the same period last year. "The situation is more dramatic than ever," said Mathilde Auvillain, a spokeswoman on board the Aquarius, a rescue ship run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF). Last year a record 181,000 boat migrants reached Italy and more than 5,000 died in the Mediterranean. Since 2015, more than a million-and-a-half migrants have flooded into Europe. To stop the flow, Italy and the European Union earlier this month pledged to fund migrant camps in Libya run by the U.N.-backed government, and to supply equipment and training for the fight against people smugglers. But humanitarian groups including SOS Mediterranee and MSF have criticised the deal, saying Libya is not safe. "In Libya, the police tells you they will deport you back to your country, but they don't," said Collins, 27, from Benin City, Nigeria, according to comments made to the Aquarius crew on Wednesday and Thursday. "They just sell you to someone else. You cannot trust anybody in Libya, you never know if they are police or gangsters," he said. Youssef from Gambia said that since the signing of the EU-Libya migrants have heard that the sea journey may soon be shut down. "I heard that they will close this route in one month, I'm very worried about my people, the blacks, who are still there in Libya. The situation is terrible," he said. (Reuters)

2,500 boat migrants rescued at sea in three days: Italian Coast Guard

25 men and women were found dead in the Central Mediterranean, French aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

According to MSF, the bodies were found in an overcrowded rubber boat some 26 nautical miles from the Libyan coastline.

107 people from the same boat were picked up by rescue ship, Bourbon Argos, MSF said, adding that an additional 139 people were rescued from a nearby rubber raft.

&ldquo;When we got to the first boat, we brought the 107 survivors on board but couldn&rsquo;t recover what we thought were up to 11 dead bodies because we were called to another urgent rescue nearby,&rdquo; Michele Telaro, MSF&rsquo;s field coordinator of the rescue ship said in a statement.

The crew returned to the first vessel and found on closer examination that in fact, 25 people had died, probably from suffocation, burns or drowning.

Among the rescued people, 23 were in need of medical treatment for chemical burns; 11 of the cases were classified as severe, MSF said.

(WION)

 
&nbsp;

MSF said its chartered rescue ship picked up 107 people aboard the boat 26 nautical miles off Libya on Tuesday

25 men and women were found dead in the Central Mediterranean, French aid group Doctors without Borders (MSF) said on Wednesday. According to MSF, the bodies were found in an overcrowded rubber boat some 26 nautical miles from the Libyan coastline. 107 people from the same boat were picked up by rescue ship, Bourbon Argos, MSF said, adding that an additional 139 people were rescued from a nearby rubber raft. “When we got to the first boat, we brought the 107 survivors on board but couldn’t recover what we thought were up to 11 dead bodies because we were called to another urgent rescue nearby,” Michele Telaro, MSF’s field coordinator of the rescue ship said in a statement. The crew returned to the first vessel and found on closer examination that in fact, 25 people had died, probably from suffocation, burns or drowning. Among the rescued people, 23 were in need of medical treatment for chemical burns; 11 of the cases were classified as severe, MSF said. (WION)

25 found dead in Mediterranean migrant boat: MSF

The Saudi-led coalition today denied targeting a school in Yemen&#39;s rebel-held north in an attack that an international relief agency said killed 10 children. 
 
&quot;The coalition denied targeting a school,&quot; coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assiri said in an English-language statement to AFP.&nbsp; 
&quot;The aircraft has bombed a training camp for the coup militias in Saada,&quot; he said, referring to the Iran-backed Huthi rebels which he accused of using &quot;children as recruits&quot;. 
 
The Paris-based Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said 10 children were killed and 28 wounded on Saturday in coalition air strikes on a school in Haydan, a town in rebel-held Saada province. 
 
MSF spokeswoman Malak Shaher told AFP that the casualties the agency received at a field hospital were all under 15 and the &quot;victims of air strikes on a Koranic school in Haydan&quot;. 
 
But Assiri said the Yemeni government had confirmed to the coalition that &quot;there is no school in this area&quot;. 
 
&quot;The site that was bombed is a major training camp for militia,&quot; he said. &quot;Why would children be at a training camp?&quot; 
 
&quot;When jets target training camps they cannot distinguish between ages&quot; of recruits, Assiri said. 
 
The Saudi Press Agency said previously that coalition warplanes struck a Huthi &quot;training centre&quot; on Saturday in Saada, killing several insurgents, including a leader it identified as Yehya Munassar Abu Rabua. 
 
Assiri said that MSF&#39;s toll only &quot;confirms the Huthis practice of recruiting and subjecting children to terror.&quot; 
 
&quot;They recruit children and use them as scouts, guards, messengers and fighters,&quot; he said, noting previous reports from Human Rights Watch on rebels recruiting children. 
 
&quot;We would have hoped MSF would take measures to stop the recruitment of children to fight in wars instead of crying over them in the media.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

'The aircraft bombed a training camp for the coup militias in Saada. Yemeni government confirmed there is no school in area,' said spokesman

The Saudi-led coalition today denied targeting a school in Yemen's rebel-held north in an attack that an international relief agency said killed 10 children. "The coalition denied targeting a school," coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assiri said in an English-language statement to AFP. "The aircraft has bombed a training camp for the coup militias in Saada," he said, referring to the Iran-backed Huthi rebels which he accused of using "children as recruits". The Paris-based Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said 10 children were killed and 28 wounded on Saturday in coalition air strikes on a school in Haydan, a town in rebel-held Saada province. MSF spokeswoman Malak Shaher told AFP that the casualties the agency received at a field hospital were all under 15 and the "victims of air strikes on a Koranic school in Haydan". But Assiri said the Yemeni government had confirmed to the coalition that "there is no school in this area". "The site that was bombed is a major training camp for militia," he said. "Why would children be at a training camp?" "When jets target training camps they cannot distinguish between ages" of recruits, Assiri said. The Saudi Press Agency said previously that coalition warplanes struck a Huthi "training centre" on Saturday in Saada, killing several insurgents, including a leader it identified as Yehya Munassar Abu Rabua. Assiri said that MSF's toll only "confirms the Huthis practice of recruiting and subjecting children to terror." "They recruit children and use them as scouts, guards, messengers and fighters," he said, noting previous reports from Human Rights Watch on rebels recruiting children. "We would have hoped MSF would take measures to stop the recruitment of children to fight in wars instead of crying over them in the media." (AFP)

Saudi-led coalition says deadly Yemen raid hit rebels, not school

Saudi-led air strikes on a school in a rebel-held province of Yemen have killed 10 children, aid agencies said today, prompting fresh concerns over civilian casualties in the 17-month war. 
 
Another 28 children were wounded in the raids which occurred yesterday in the town of Haydan, in Saada province, said the Paris-based Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The United Nations confirmed the attacks. 
 
A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has been battling the Iran-backed rebels since March 2015 when the insurgents seized the capital Sanaa before expanding to other parts of the country. 
 
Only 10 days ago, it acknowledged &quot;shortcomings&quot; in two out of eight cases it has investigated of strikes on civilian targets in Yemen that have been condemned by the United Nations. 
 
Doctors Without Borders &quot;received 10 dead children and 28 wounded, all under the age of 15, who are victims of air strikes on a Koranic school in Haydan,&quot; said spokeswoman Malak Shaher. 
 
They were admitted to a field hospital near the school before being transferred to a public hospital, she told AFP. 
 
&quot;We demand from all parties to take the measures necessary to protect civilians,&quot; Shaher said. 
 
The United Nation&#39;s children agency, UNICEF, also reported the attack. 
 
It warned that &quot;with the intensification in violence across the country in the past week, the number of children killed and injured by air strikes, street fighting and landmines has grown sharply.&quot; 
 
The Shiite rebels posted pictures and videos on Facebook of dead and bloodied children wrapped in blankets.&nbsp;Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said warplanes &quot;targeted&quot; children at the Jomaa bin Fadhel school, in what he described as a &quot;heinous crime&quot;. 
 
The Saudi Press Agency said coalition warplanes struck a Huthi &quot;training centre&quot; yesterday in Saada, killing several insurgents, including a leader it identified as Yehya Munassar Abu Rabua. 
 
The Arab coalition launched its air war against the Huthis on March 26, 2015. After a three-month pause, it resumed the air strikes on Tuesday, less than 72 hours after UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced the collapse of peace talks in Kuwait. 
 
Raids struck a food factory in Yemen`s rebel-controlled capital, killing 14 people, according to medics. The factory is near a military equipment maintenance centre targeted by the coalition. 
 
The United Nations had also voiced concern over the increased fighting in Yemen during the past week, warning of its humanitarian consequences with more than 80 per cent of the population needing aid. 
 
&quot;UNICEF calls on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to respect and abide by their obligations under international law,&quot; the agency said in its latest statement. &quot;This includes the obligation to only target combatants and limit harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.&quot; 
 
Saudi Arabia reacted angrily to a decision in June to blacklist the coalition after a UN report found the Arab alliance responsible for 60 percent of the 785 deaths of children in Yemen last year. 
 
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had accused Saudi Arabia of threatening to cut off funding to United Nations aid programmes over the blacklist, a charge denied by Riyadh. 
 
Coalition members - Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - as well as Yemen have formed a 14-member investigative team which has probed claims of attacks on a residential area, hospitals, markets, a wedding and World Food Programme aid trucks. It found the coalition guilty of &quot;mistakenly&quot; hitting a residential compound after receiving &quot;imprecise&quot; intelligence information and offered compensation to families of the victims. 
 
The team also held the coalition responsible for air strikes on an MSF-run hospital, also in Haydan, but accused the rebels of having used the hospital as a hideout.&nbsp; 
 
The UN says more than 6,400 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the coalition air campaign began in March last year. The coalition meanwhile announced that Saudi air defences yesterday intercepted a Scud missile fired from Yemen towards the kingdom.&nbsp; 
 
Coalition jets struck the source of fire in an area between Saada and Amran province, near the capital. 
 
Around 100 members of the Saudi forces and civilians have been killed inside the kingdom`s borders since the coalition campaign began. 
 
(AFP)

Another 28 children were wounded in the raids. All children were under the age of 15, said a Doctors Without Borders spokeswoman

Saudi-led air strikes on a school in a rebel-held province of Yemen have killed 10 children, aid agencies said today, prompting fresh concerns over civilian casualties in the 17-month war. Another 28 children were wounded in the raids which occurred yesterday in the town of Haydan, in Saada province, said the Paris-based Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The United Nations confirmed the attacks. A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has been battling the Iran-backed rebels since March 2015 when the insurgents seized the capital Sanaa before expanding to other parts of the country. Only 10 days ago, it acknowledged "shortcomings" in two out of eight cases it has investigated of strikes on civilian targets in Yemen that have been condemned by the United Nations. Doctors Without Borders "received 10 dead children and 28 wounded, all under the age of 15, who are victims of air strikes on a Koranic school in Haydan," said spokeswoman Malak Shaher. They were admitted to a field hospital near the school before being transferred to a public hospital, she told AFP. "We demand from all parties to take the measures necessary to protect civilians," Shaher said. The United Nation's children agency, UNICEF, also reported the attack. It warned that "with the intensification in violence across the country in the past week, the number of children killed and injured by air strikes, street fighting and landmines has grown sharply." The Shiite rebels posted pictures and videos on Facebook of dead and bloodied children wrapped in blankets. Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said warplanes "targeted" children at the Jomaa bin Fadhel school, in what he described as a "heinous crime". The Saudi Press Agency said coalition warplanes struck a Huthi "training centre" yesterday in Saada, killing several insurgents, including a leader it identified as Yehya Munassar Abu Rabua. The Arab coalition launched its air war against the Huthis on March 26, 2015. After a three-month pause, it resumed the air strikes on Tuesday, less than 72 hours after UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced the collapse of peace talks in Kuwait. Raids struck a food factory in Yemen`s rebel-controlled capital, killing 14 people, according to medics. The factory is near a military equipment maintenance centre targeted by the coalition. The United Nations had also voiced concern over the increased fighting in Yemen during the past week, warning of its humanitarian consequences with more than 80 per cent of the population needing aid. "UNICEF calls on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to respect and abide by their obligations under international law," the agency said in its latest statement. "This includes the obligation to only target combatants and limit harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure." Saudi Arabia reacted angrily to a decision in June to blacklist the coalition after a UN report found the Arab alliance responsible for 60 percent of the 785 deaths of children in Yemen last year. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had accused Saudi Arabia of threatening to cut off funding to United Nations aid programmes over the blacklist, a charge denied by Riyadh. Coalition members - Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - as well as Yemen have formed a 14-member investigative team which has probed claims of attacks on a residential area, hospitals, markets, a wedding and World Food Programme aid trucks. It found the coalition guilty of "mistakenly" hitting a residential compound after receiving "imprecise" intelligence information and offered compensation to families of the victims. The team also held the coalition responsible for air strikes on an MSF-run hospital, also in Haydan, but accused the rebels of having used the hospital as a hideout. The UN says more than 6,400 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the coalition air campaign began in March last year. The coalition meanwhile announced that Saudi air defences yesterday intercepted a Scud missile fired from Yemen towards the kingdom. Coalition jets struck the source of fire in an area between Saada and Amran province, near the capital. Around 100 members of the Saudi forces and civilians have been killed inside the kingdom`s borders since the coalition campaign began. (AFP)

10 children dead in Saudi-led Arab coalition raid on Yemen school: MSF

Medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said it will reject all funding from the European Union and its member states in protest against&nbsp;a deal to stem the influx of migrants and refugees that the EU reached with Turkey.

Under the deal, struck in March to cut off a human tide that brought a million refugees and migrants to Europe in 2015, Turkey agreed to halt illegal migration through its territory in return for financial and political rewards.

Jerome Oberreit,&nbsp;MSF&#39;s International Secretary General, said the agreement went against the fundamental principles of providing assistance to people in need.

&quot;This is jeopardising the very concept of the refugee,&quot; he told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

Oberreit said&nbsp;MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders and active in disaster zones across the world, will lose Euro&nbsp;37 million ($41.6 million) of funding from EU states and Euro 19 million&nbsp;from EU institutions.

In the short term it would cover the shortfall from emergency reserves.

&quot;It&#39;s really important to see the real people instead of the political football that they have become,&quot; he said. &quot;We&#39;re talking about Europe&#39;s refugee shame.&quot;

European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said&nbsp;MSF&nbsp;was not an implementing partner of EU humanitarian aid in Turkey and&nbsp;MSF&#39;s decision would not affect life-saving EU humanitarian aid for refugees in Turkey or&nbsp;MSF&#39;s operations that currently get EU funding.

&quot;As to ...the legality of the EU-Turkey agreement, the Commission prefers the interpretation of our 28 member states... and of the United Nations that are closer to our analysis of the deal rather than the one&nbsp;MSF&nbsp;did today.&quot;

Many EU officials acknowledge privately that the measures taken to curb migration have stretched the limits of legality but they also defend the strategy as a political imperative driven by European voters who have made clear their unwillingness to accept large numbers of migrants.

Oberreit said the deal with Turkey did nothing to address the chronic deficiencies of EU policy, but simply outsourced European obligations.

It also set a precedent that risked triggering a global domino effect as other countries also turned their backs on their obligations. &quot;It&#39;s clearly sending a message that caring for people forced from their homes is optional, that you can buy your way out.&quot;

The EU was in talks for similar deals with 16 other countries &quot;with the single goal of denying people their right to asylum&quot;. The talks include Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan, four of the biggest sources of refugees, he said.

&quot;This would potentially mean locking people into war zones or places where they face persecution.&quot;

Kenya has also cited the EU-Turkey deal as a justification for its plans to close the world&#39;s largest refugee camp. &quot;This would involve ...sending 330,000 people back into Somalia, a country at war,&quot; Oberreit said.

MSF&nbsp;gets 92 percent of its funding from private donations, Oberreit said. 
 
(Reuters)

The medical aid charity is protesting against EU's march deal with Turkey aimed at cutting off the influx of migrants

Medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said it will reject all funding from the European Union and its member states in protest against a deal to stem the influx of migrants and refugees that the EU reached with Turkey. Under the deal, struck in March to cut off a human tide that brought a million refugees and migrants to Europe in 2015, Turkey agreed to halt illegal migration through its territory in return for financial and political rewards. Jerome Oberreit, MSF's International Secretary General, said the agreement went against the fundamental principles of providing assistance to people in need. "This is jeopardising the very concept of the refugee," he told Reuters in an interview on Friday. Oberreit said MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders and active in disaster zones across the world, will lose Euro 37 million ($41.6 million) of funding from EU states and Euro 19 million from EU institutions. In the short term it would cover the shortfall from emergency reserves. "It's really important to see the real people instead of the political football that they have become," he said. "We're talking about Europe's refugee shame." European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said MSF was not an implementing partner of EU humanitarian aid in Turkey and MSF's decision would not affect life-saving EU humanitarian aid for refugees in Turkey or MSF's operations that currently get EU funding. "As to ...the legality of the EU-Turkey agreement, the Commission prefers the interpretation of our 28 member states... and of the United Nations that are closer to our analysis of the deal rather than the one MSF did today." Many EU officials acknowledge privately that the measures taken to curb migration have stretched the limits of legality but they also defend the strategy as a political imperative driven by European voters who have made clear their unwillingness to accept large numbers of migrants. Oberreit said the deal with Turkey did nothing to address the chronic deficiencies of EU policy, but simply outsourced European obligations. It also set a precedent that risked triggering a global domino effect as other countries also turned their backs on their obligations. "It's clearly sending a message that caring for people forced from their homes is optional, that you can buy your way out." The EU was in talks for similar deals with 16 other countries "with the single goal of denying people their right to asylum". The talks include Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan, four of the biggest sources of refugees, he said. "This would potentially mean locking people into war zones or places where they face persecution." Kenya has also cited the EU-Turkey deal as a justification for its plans to close the world's largest refugee camp. "This would involve ...sending 330,000 people back into Somalia, a country at war," Oberreit said. MSF gets 92 percent of its funding from private donations, Oberreit said. (Reuters)

Medecins Sans Frontieres spurns EU funding in protest against refugee deal