In a Pakistan valley marked by conflict, one clinic offers critical support to thousands returning to damaged homes After more than a decade of being displaced from their homes by conflict, people have been returning to Tirah Valley, a mountainous area in the northwest of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border. Families have … Read more
Balochistan, Pakistan- “Since the deportations were announced, we live in constant anxiety,” says an Afghan refugee and father of two girls, while he visits a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Balochistan, Pakistan. He describes how Afghan refugee communities are gripped by fear. “We avoid going out due to fear of arrest. Families are afraid to … Read more
In the heart of Dera Murad Jamali, a town in eastern Balochistan frequently battered by seasonal floods and chronic poverty, the mother and child healthcare facility supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) at the District Headquarter Hospital serves as a vital centre of support and care. The facility offers a wide range of services including … Read more
Pakistan– Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) once again expresses deep concern for approximately 900,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders facing deportation from Pakistan. Vulnerable groups, including women, children, and those with disabilities, are disproportionately impacted by such deportations. Women and girls face especially heightened risks due to restrictive policies which limit their access to education, employment, and public … Read more
Karachi: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today announced the closure of its long-running hepatitis C project in Karachi, bringing to an end nine years of free, lifesaving treatment in one of Pakistan’s most underserved urban communities. A new report, “The fight against ‘a silent killer’ – The hepatitis C virus,” chronicles the successes, setbacks, and lessons … Read more
In southern Pakistan’s Sindh Province, on the edge of Karachi’s bustling fish harbour, sits Machar Colony, an informal settlement where life is harsh, often unkind, and plagued by overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to basic services. The community’s struggles with health and well-being have long been exacerbated by these conditions, leaving residents vulnerable to … Read more
“Eight of my nine children were born here, and my daughter-in-law delivered her five children in this very hospital. It’s part of who we are,” says Zarlast, her eyes gleaming with pride as she sits beside her daughter-in-law Zarnasha, both dressed in traditional Pakhtoon attire, adorned with a long, colorful shawl and a set of … Read more
In June 2022, extreme monsoon rains struck Pakistan and submerged more than one third of the country. The floods caused extensive destruction of crops and buildings, including health structures. People had to leave their unsafe homes and spend months living in camps, often without shelter, access to basic services, or clean drinking water and food. … Read more
Last year, scorching heat waves broke records across South Asia, with temperatures surpassing 50° in March and April. The unusually violent monsoon that followed triggered floods that killed over 1.700 people in Pakistan and ravaged communities. After the devastating weather events, attributed to climate change, MSF set up a community-based malnutrition program in the remote … Read more
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a skin infection caused by a parasite transmitted by the bite of a phlebotomine sandfly. It is common in Pakistan, particularly amongst poor, both urban and rural populations in Balochistan and Khyber Paktunkhwa provinces. The disease is characterised by lesions on the face or any other part of the body which can … Read more