Government bans international medical group from helping victims at Hopley squatter camp

By Tererai Karimakwenda
23 May 2006

Its been reported that the international medical group Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) has been banned from assisting displaced families at the Hopley Farm squatter camp outside Harare. A report by MSF had exposed deteriorating health conditions at Hopley, where the government dumped some families that were displaced by Operation Murambatsvina last year.

The report revealed that the camp had been hit by an outbreak of scabies, tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria and sexually transmitted infections due to squalid living conditions. Dr Stanley Mungofa, who runs the Harare health services, allegedly ordered a social welfare officer to remove MSF with immediate effect. Angry Hopley residents descended on the government offices at the camp but were quickly dispersed.

According to the Zim-online news site, the MSF report revealed that
5, 342 patients had been treated between January and March this year. Most were suffering from skin and respiratory infections associated with a poor living environment. The MSF report said "In the same period, MSF diagnosed 30 malaria cases and many sexually transmitted infections, some linked to prostitution which in turn is partly caused by lack of food in the settlement,"

It is known that this camp has no running water. Many of the residents do not have proper shelter from the elements and food is very scarce. Government officials at the camp recently ordered another organisation to scale down their food distribution programme there.