Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - is an international, non-governmental humanitarian organisation created in France in 1971. It is a non-profit organization that won the Nobel Peace Price in 1999, as well as the King Hussein Foundation humanitarian leadership prize in 2004.

The mission of the association is to provide medical humanitarian aid to populations in distress, irrespective of race, sex, religion, creed or political convictions.

Since April 2003 the evolution of the situation in Iraq has been of great concern. Violence has increased in intensity and has had dramatic consequences on the population. Aware of the difficulties facing the health facilities in dealing with the high number of casualties, Médecins Sans Frontières has developed programmes to assist Iraqi victims of violence. We are directly assisting several Iraqi hospitals that are involved in treating the casualties by providing them with drugs and medical supplies. We have also set up a surgical programme in cooperation with the Jordanian Red Crescent hospital in Amman, in accordance with Jordanian legislation and that respects international medical standards. This programme provides reconstructive surgery. It is designed to treat patients that have been handicapped by sequelae or incomplete procedures: it is not designed for patients at immediate risk of death.

in the program.

Sequelae in the eye: we are able to treat traumatic cataracts.

Consequences of severe burns: skin contractures with function reduction (reduced movements, impaired eating or speech ability, hand function). Plastic surgery will not be considered for patients that have aesthetic sequelae without functional impairment.

Abdominal injuries: secondary cases with either eventration, colostomies or abscesses will be considered for surgery in Jordan. The programme targets patients that suffer from injuries directly related to violence in Iraq. It is essential to note that the project accepts patients coming from any religious denomination, political group, tribe or location in Iraq, without any discrimination. The program is totally free of charge for the patients. Transport costs will be covered by MSF. Patients will be accommodated for either in hospital or, during their convalescence, in a hotel. If patients can bring with them a close family member to help provide care, transport and accommodation for this person will be provided by MSF. To be able to enter Jordan, patients and those accompanying them need valid passports and will be questioned by the relevant authorities in Jordan. Patient referral to the project needs to be made directly by phone or email contact (see details below). Patients can be self-referred, i.e. it is not absolutely necessary to have medical files or to be in contact with a practionner in Iraq. Patients or families who are in doubt about the feasibility of the transport to Jordan should seek the opinion of the medical team in Amman.

For further information please contact the MSF team in Amman at:
Msff-Amman-Reference@paris.msf.org