Heroes In a Troubled World

This morning, I heard a story on the BBC about a journalist who had spent a week on the MSF Dignity.  She told about the people being rescued and their hardships.  She said they rescued more than 500 people while she was on board.

 

I had heard of Doctors Without Borders, but had not given them much attention until this morning’s account.  I was truly inspired:  Here are people who are invested in rescuing, providing medical care and reaching out to ones in need, even when they are in very dangerous areas.
Here is part of a story I found at
http://www.msf.org/en/article/mediterranean-msf-assists-rescue-3000-people-single-day

 

30 August 2016
On 29 August, MSF search and rescue boat Dignity I contributed to the rescue of around 3,000 people drifting in about 20 rubber dinghies and several wooden boats in the central Mediterranean, one of which carried between 600 and 700 people.

“This is one of the largest numbers of people we have assisted in any single day since our search and rescue operations began over a year ago,” says Nicholas Papachrysostomou, field coordinator for Dignity I. “This unbelievable number speaks to the desperation people are facing in their countries that pushes them to risk their lives to seek safety and protection in Europe.” The Dignity I boat can hold a standard capacity of 400 people, yet due to the extreme situation yesterday MSF boarded 435 men, women, and children. For the other people in distress, MSF distributed all of their stock of 700 life jackets and used our RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) in order to transfer as many people as possible to other search and rescue vessels in the area.

“We have a remarkable story of rescuing twins who were premature babies delivered at eight months and were five days old,” says Antonia Zemp, medical team leader. “The mother was traveling alone. One of the boys was not well. He was vomiting, had hypothermia and was non-reactive. After a first triage, our medical team decided to request an evacuation due to the fact that his health was so fragile that he would not have survived the long journey to Italy in our boat. We transferred both mother and twins to another vessel that could evacuate them to shore.”

MSF’s medical teams treated people who were exhausted and experiencing bloody diarrhoea, dehydration, fever, hypothermia and skin diseases. Of the 435 people rescued by Dignity I, 353 were male and 82 female. This included 13 children under five years of age and 110 minors, 92 of which were unaccompanied.

Currently, Dignity I is heading to Vibo Valentia, Italy in order to disembark the 435 people on board. It will return to sea as soon as the boat has been restocked to continue its search and rescue operations.
Since 21 April 2016, when MSF’s search and rescue operations began this year, MSF teams on board the Dignity I, Bourbon Argos and Aquarius (in partnership with SOS Mediterranée) have rescued a total of 11,365 people in 85 different rescue operations.

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At a time when we hear so much negative “stuff,” it is refreshing to consider people who are excelling at doing good in the world.

May you be warmed and inspired by this story.

 

These are only snapshots of what Doctors Without Borders do.  If you search for articles an dvids, you will find many.  Here is one that tells a bit more:

 

“A Day On the Front Line”