Millions of individuals worldwide face the insurmountable financial barrier of having to pay to access health care, representing one of the primary causes of impoverishment.

On July 1st, 2011, a new MdM program opened in Bosaso, Puntland region, Somalia, one of the few regions still accessible to foreign humanitarian NGOs. MdM, who had been present in Somalia since 2007, has indeed been compelled to close the Merka program (South Somalia) in March 2011, due to deteriorated safety and access conditions that hindered the quality and follow-up of the program, in a country when controlling the humanitarian aid is a major stake. While southern and central Somalia are undergoing violent political turmoil, Puntland remains relatively stable following the appointment of a transitional government. Each day, many migrants and displaced individuals arrive in Bosaso -- Puntland’s business capital and only free-access deep water port in the district -- or try to reach the Gulf States or Yemen. Médecins du Monde is also implementing an assessment mission in Ethiopia and is prepared to adapt its activities in the area. ..