Two employees of the Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) were killed in the early hours of Wednesday, Feb. 8, in northwestern Burkina Faso.

According to the organisation, a “clearly identified” MSF vehicle carrying four of its workers was targeted by armed men and shot at, killing two of its employees while another two managed to escape.

“We are shocked and outraged by this killing,” Dr Isabelle Defourny, president of MSF said. “This is a deliberate and intentional attack on a clearly identified humanitarian team, during its medical work.”

The two casualties were both from Burkina Faso. One of them was employed as a driver in July 2021 while the other, a logistics supervisor, was employed in June 2020.  

Operations suspended 

The attack took place in Boucle du Mouhoun region of Burkina Faso. MSF suspended all operations of its medical activities, “until the organisation has a better understanding of the tragic event,” the press statement notes.

In Aug. 2022, thousands were displaced from their hometowns in parts of Boucle du Mouhoun due to the armed conflict escalating in the region. It is estimated that 6,700 people have had to flee their homes. 

MSF has been present in the community since January 2021 before the peak of the violence where it has set up a health centre in partnership with authorities  supporting vulnerable men, women and children.

Dr Defourney, MSF’s president, explains that the organisation’s priority is to support the two colleagues who escaped the attack, “as well as the families and loved ones of our missing colleagues. We are also going to engage with all the parties to the conflict to understand what happened.”