Fiona replies to a reader’s comment

3 diciembre 2009

Fiona,

I admire your courage and have enjoyed reading about your thoughts and experiences. I noticed that you wrote this on April 21st, 2009, (my 32nd birthday).

I live in the US and can only imagine what its like where you are. Recent stories of the Crisis were featured today on the Oprah Winfrey Show, so I wanted to look up some information on the internet to learn more. There are many people around the world that want to help, I think they just don’t know what to do and need someone to direct them and show them what to do. What do you think?? Since you are there and experiencing it in person, what would you suggest as far as donating money, etc or what organizations are the most helpful?

Thank you for what you do! It takes a very special person to do what you do, and if no one else has thanked you, I want to say a big thank you from my family here in North Carolina,

Warmest Regards,
Crystal Baugus

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Dear Crystal,

Thank you so much for your comment on my blog from DR Congo. It seems your heart for the Congolese people is just as full as mine so it is me who should be thanking you for going out of your way to learn more about their terrible situation. It is truly a privilege to do the work that I do and I am grateful to have the skills that can take me to the centre of the conflict.

I have been back from DR Congo for several months now which has given me the necessary time to reflect on the good and the difficult of my time there. In Masisi, where I was writing from, MSF was the only organisation working. Further away from the conflict, towards the capital of North Kivu, Goma, there are many organisations also doing good work. To name a few for your research: Save the Children, Solidarité and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Although there were others (plenty in fact) I did not come into contact with their work and would therefore not feel comfortable making assumptions about it.

In terms of further supporting the people caught up in the crisis, there are many ways in which you can make an impact on their behalf, from North Carolina! Firstly, carry on doing what you’re doing - comment on blogs, ask questions, link relevant articles through social networking sites like Facebook or email them to your friends. (My emails home seem to go much further than I ever imagine they can!). Trying to catch people’s attention to something so far removed from their daily reality which barely impacts them is hard. But if we all cover all bases we can make in-roads into their awareness.

Secondly, financial support is a fantastic way to help. I know that sometimes it can feel a bit cold or brief an action, but the cost of Masisi, for example, for one year is around €3m or US$4.5 approximately. We achieve an awful lot with that, but we do need people’s support to raise it. MSF is quite unusual, financially. The proportion of our funds that come from the general public is far above the average for the industry - around 85-90% per year typically. We insist upon such a percentage because the countries we want to work in are often fraught with political unrest and to use government money for our work not only threatens to compromise the security of our teams, but crucially. the access we have to the worst affected areas and the most in need. By using independent funds, we gain permission from all authorities and warring parties to work in conflict areas - exactly where we want to be. We justify their faith in us by treating all sides and showing them the medical quality and worth of our actions. That is our security. And it is the public that affords it for us.

Thirdly, you can contact the US office of MSF, known as Doctors Without Borders, and ask them what you can do locally to raise funds or awareness for them. I’m sure they would love to hear from you. Contact details can be found on their website: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

As you can see from my sign-off below I work for MSF as both a nurse and a fundraiser. If there are any other questions that I can answer for you or help can offer, I am only too happy to.

And thank you, Crystal, for your compassion and concern.

Very best wishes,

Fiona

Tags: Masisi