Doctor in Darfur

DW-WORLD.DE: The crisis in Darfur is talked about in many political circles. Can you benefit from the discussion?

Matthias Hrubey: The country and the media are talking a lot about the situation in Darfur, but not about the population and how the people here are doing. And they're not doing as well as they should be.

What are the problems you're dealing with at the moment?

In one of our projects there was a major outbreak of meningitis and we had to start a vaccination campaign. The risk of a cholera outbreak is increasing now that the rainy season has begun. The disease could break out in the camps as well as in the countryside. We've joined forces to prepare ourselves. In addition, the people frequently suffer from dysentery due to the poor hygiene and water conditions.

Are you able to get to the people suffering from health problems?

At the moment, it's very different to reach the people. Especially in the rural areas, we have to use helicopters because the streets are simply too unsafe.

What's your current project?

It's a mountain region that hasn't had any access to medical aid until now. We're trying to change that and help the more than 100,000 people there.

How dangerous is your work at the moment?

In the past weeks, nothing has happened to us personally because we work very carefully. Every Doctors Without Borders project has detailed security guidelines that are regularly adjusted to fit the current situation. But not a week goes by when we don't hear about an incident. It's a constant strain; something could happen any minute.

You were in the region in 2004 and returned 10 months ago. What has changed since your previous stay in Darfur?

The situation hasn't gotten any easier, but it has changed. When I was on a project in 2004 we had a major medical emergency involving numerous malnourished children. Today our work is more complex and that makes it more difficult. The suffering is not as striking and not as visible as it was then, but it's nevertheless just as big.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was critical this week at the Africa Summit and said that African states should guarantee that aid actually arrives where it's needed. What's your opinion about this?

The criticism is valid. Aid is often not given where it's needed most but where it brings the most political gain. Doctors Without Borders is active where medical assistance is needed the most. For this reason, we're also present in the places where other organizations don't go.

The Darfur conflict will be discussed this week by the UN Human Rights Council and again in June at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm. What are your expectations for these conferences?

I'm hopeful but I don't have any big expectations. Aside from the meetings, it is my wish that the people won't have to live in camps any longer but can live at home and at peace with each other, and that they really have all the medical assistance that they need. But that's an optimistic wish. It's important that the people here aren't forgotten in the near future, which unfortunately happens often when a conflict drags on for years.

Matthias Hrubey is a general practitioner and the associate national coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Darfur. Along with 100 international and more than 2,000 local colleagues, he provides medical attention to those who need it.

Kay-Alexander Scholz interviewed Matthias Hrubey (kjb)