What are MSF's plans if war breaks out?
MSF's priority is to respond to the urgent medical needs of the most vulnerable, starting with treatment of war wounded, tackling outbreaks of disease and attempting to meet some of the critical needs for shelter, food and water for those forced to flee. It already has small teams in Jordan, Iraq and Iran ready to react quickly, mobilise extra support at short notice and direct it where it will have the maximum impact.
What are the problems facing agencies in the field?
One major problem in Iraq, says MSF, is that nobody can be sure if aid organisations will be able to reach the people who need aid most. The executive director of MSF UK, Jean-Michel Piedagnel, said other concerns for MSF are likely to be the conduct of war and the threat of civilian casualties, the right of civilians to seek refuge in safe areas and independent access for humanitarian organisations.
He said: "Having treated civilian victims of coalition bombing campaigns in Afghanistan, MSF knows the risks from indiscriminate weapons, such as cluster bombs, which neither party has excluded from use in Iraq.
"We also saw how hundreds of thousands of civilians were forced to gather in unprotected and under-served camps along the Afghan border when neighbouring countries would not let them cross, in contravention of international humanitarian law. We are very worried that Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey have already announced that they will turn back Iraqi refugees."
How will it fund its operations?
MSF says its emergency focus ensures it maintains the financial independence to react quickly to any crisis without being tied to government funding or public appeals. MSF will not accept funding from any warring party.
MSF says:
The executive director of MSF UK, Jean-Michel Piedagnel: "The mixing of humanitarian and military agendas in the event of war in Iraq could also pose a threat to the neutrality and effectiveness of aid.
"There is no monopoly on assistance to civilians. However recent talk by US officials of using aid organisations to help "win the hearts and minds" of Iraqi civilians threatens to erode the principle of assistance on the basis of need.
"We are also very concerned about the other urgent needs around the world. There is no doubt that the prospect of war in Iraq is already diverting crucial funds and attention from the ongoing humanitarian disasters in countries such as Burundi, Sudan, Liberia and many others. These should not be forgotten."
