Your Legacy Without Borders

Uncertainty around what the future may bring is a reality for many of our patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo. More than 190,000 people had to flee their homes in the territories of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo, in North Kivu province, following violent clashes in late March. In addition to conflict and a lack of shelter, there is widespread food insecurity. “The people we treat have empty stomachs,” says Bénédicte Lecoq, emergency coordinator in Rutshuru. “It is essential to increase food distributions, or the situation could get even worse.”

Our teams urgently scaled up our response to meet people’s escalating needs in the months that followed. In Rutshuru town we opened temporary clinics, mainly treating malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhoea, and set up mobile clinics along the roads to help those who were displaced. We built latrines and showers and improved the water system. In Rutshuru general hospital we supported the emergency and surgical wards and treated surging numbers of children in the malnutrition unit, which was 40 per cent over capacity earlier this year.

The situation in North Kivu continues to be extremely tense, with the retreat of peacekeepers at the end of November.

As an independent, neutral, impartial organisation, it’s thanks to our supporters that we can move quickly to provide what’s needed, where it’s needed. Gifts like yours, make work like this possible. Father of 13, Ponsie, was working in the fields with his family when the attacks began. They escaped with nothing but what they had on and are now living in a schoolyard in Rumangabo. For subsistence farmers like Ponsie, who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, not being able to access their fields for weeks or even months is devastating. He said: “We eat boiled leaves from Monday to Sunday. My wife takes them from other people’s fields, asking the owners first. There is mutual help because the community know how much we are suffering. They share what little they have. This is not the first time we have had to fee. I do not know how my children can grow up in war.”

Your support enables us to continue to provide medical assistance to people in need and ensures our programs truly know no borders.

Who is Médecins Sans Frontières?

Our Charter

Médecins Sans Frontières:
  • offers assistance to populations in distress, those affected by natural or man-made disasters and armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation;
  • observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance; and
  • demands full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.

How You Can Help

What is a Gift in Will?

A bequest is a gift left in your Will. It’s also known as a legacy. You can leave a bequest by writing a new Will, or by adding a codicil (an addition) to your existing Will. We recommend you consult a solicitor to help write your Will. We rely on our supporters’ generosity to enable us to respond immediately and effectively to populations in need of urgent medical assistance. Without you, our work would simply not be possible.

What is the best way to leave a gift in my Will to Médecins Sans Frontières?

We are very grateful for any gifts left to further our work with people in crisis all around the world. There are many ways to leave a gift, and the one you choose will depend on your unique circumstances.

A residuary bequest is the most effective way to leave a bequest to Médecins Sans Frontières. It is a gift of what remains after you have made provisions for your loved ones. It will mean your bequest will achieve as much in our projects in the future as you would like it to now.

Leaving a percentage of your estate allows you to decide what proportion of your total estate you would like to give to Médecins Sans Frontières.

My relative passed away and left a gift in their Will for Médecins Sans Frontières. What do I need to do?

We very much appreciate bequests left to us from generous supporters. Please ask the Executor to notify us of the bequest by sending an email to giftsinwills@sydney.msf.org. We then start the process of transferring the bequest to Médecins Sans Frontières. For more information contact the gifts in Wills coordinator on 02 8570 2611. Leaving a percentage of your estate allows you to decide what proportion of your total estate you would like to give to Médecins Sans Frontières.

Courtesy MSF, www.msf.org.au

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