MSF’s Dr Christos Christou on the shrinking of the humanitarian space

Devpolicy Talks

Dr Christos Christou, International President of Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), spoke with Robin Davies when he visited Canberra to meet senior government figures and speak at both the National Press Club and the Development Policy Centre.

Christos was appointed to his current role in mid-2019. He has been with MSF in many capacities since 2002, including as director of the organisation’s Greek chapter, and has had field assignments in Zambia, South Sudan, Iraq, and Cameroon. Born and educated in Greece, he trained as a general and emergency surgeon and also holds a Masters degree in International Health from the University of Athens, where he is a faculty member.

Christos talks about the shrinking of the humanitarian space in which MSF and other humanitarian organisations operate, through restrictions on access to emergency situations, direct attacks on humanitarian workers, and the criminalisation of humanitarian efforts. He also discusses the role of MSF in protracted crises, the organisation’s ambitions for the pandemic treaty or agreement, policy responses to the plight of the Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, and his legacy objectives as he enters the final year of his term.

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