MSF suspends medical activities in north Arakan State

Jonathan, Narinjara News, 29 June 2024

Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) recently announced that it suspended medical activities in north Arakan State of Myanmar.

In a statement, issued on 27 June, MSF disclosed that due to severe restrictions on humanitarian assistance and escalating conflicts in the northern part of  Arakan State, their activities were indefinitely suspended in Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships.

Mentionable is that MSF operated 14 mobile clinics in northern Arakan localities providing essential medical services to all communities including the Arakanese, Rohingya and other minority groups.

In November 2023, MSF teams became unable to provide regular healthcare services in both central and northern Arakan localities.

MSF however stated that it will maintain its presence in north Arakan to enable the immediate resumption of activities as soon as the conditions improve.

"We call on all parties to the conflict to ensure humanitarian access in Arakan State and respect the protected status of healthcare facilities and staff," said the MSF statement.