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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World

Staying on

Médecins sans Frontières is continually assessing the security situation in Baghdad (Powell begs aid agencies to stay, October 29), but our medical programmes currently continue through the relentless efforts of three expatriate and 60 national staff. Our decision to stay or leave will be based on our own security analysis and the needs in Iraq. This decision will be made in total disregard of what any occupying power wants to impose on us. Colin Powell's statement that terrorists will win if humanitarian workers leave has not helped our security.

Aid agencies are independent of the warring parties. Each time politicians confound humanitarian aid and foreign policy our independence - upon which the safety of our staff and the future of our missions depends - is eroded.
Jean-Michel Piedagnel
Executive director, MSF-UK

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