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Is it possible to feel like having war inside your body?
“It was late afternoon and fighting seemed to have stopped. That’s why we all decided to go out into the yard.” These were Golali’s first words when she spoke to me about her daughter, Hussna. “We were outside planning to have dinner, when suddenly the fighting started again, right by our own house. That’s how…
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“I’m a Woman Who Works for Women”
“Anyone – suddenly – can become a victim of war.” Layla has been taking care of patients at our hospital for war victims in Kabul for 18 years. She was born here in the Afghan capital 56 years ago and has been working for a long time now as a nurse at the hospital. “I…
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EMERGENCY onboard the Open Arms vessel to rescue people in need
Yohannes and Alessandro, EMERGENCY cultural mediator and psychologist, are on board the Open Arms vessel operated by Spanish organisation Proactiva Open Arms, dedicated to search and rescue operations for people attempting to cross the Mediterranean. We are collaborating with them in order to assist more than 150 people who are at sea in a vulnerable…
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Lyse Doucet, at our 18th Annual Meeting in Milan
“It’s in what seem like the darkest places that we find the light.” Inspiring words from Lyse Doucet, Chief International Correspondent for the BBC, who joined us at our Annual Meeting in Milan with a message of hope. Lyse spoke about “the special, special work that EMERGENCY does” for our patients, like those we’ve treated…
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Our staff were present to offer assistance to migrants rescued by Open Arms
Months ago, after the ‘Code of conduct for NGOs involved in migrants’ rescue at sea’ was enforced by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, we feared that an actual war against migrants had begun. We carried on with our work, struggling against those who kept trying to drag NGOs through the mud. But what is…
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To all women who fight for a better future
This is how we celebrate International Women’s Day: by treating women and girls where war has brought destruction, where poverty prevents them from accessing medical treatment, by offering training and work so they can be independent, by fostering respect for human rights and dignity. We’ll talk about it today, but we put it into practice…
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We call for an immediate ceasefire in Syria
In west Ghouta, east of Damascus, a massacre is underway. Over six days of airstrikes have caused over 370 deaths and 870 wounded. In addition to these victims, there are all those who won’t be able to find care in hospitals – now a target of the fighting. “It’s hell on earth”, said Antonio Guterres, UN…
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Solidarity against fear, culture against extremism, ensuring the fulfilment of human rights in the face of hatred
We are following the news from Spain and our thoughts go to the women, men and children who were wounded and killed in the attacks. In a moment of violence and fear, Barcelona’s Mayor Ada Colau spoke extraordinary words: “Barcelona is a city of peace. Terror will not stop us from being who we are:…
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The 2017 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony acceptance Speech by Dr. Gino Strada
Today in Seoul, South Korea, Gino Strada, surgeon and co-founder of EMERGENCY, received the Sunhak Peace Prize, given each year to individuals and organizations which have distinguished themselves by making an important contribution to peace and human development. The 2017 Sunhak Peace Prize aims to contribute to research towards a peaceful solution to the largest…