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02/10/2004: "Kandahar Chronicles #69 - 09/02/2004"

Today I faced a room full of men, two thirds of whom were about to lose their jobs. We have made a decision to resume operations in Zhare Dasht camp but with a reduced presence. Instead of one Basic Health Unit (BHU), with a night shift, and two Health Posts (HP), we will start operations with only the day shift BHU. This means that out of a total of thirty-two guards and cooks, only eleven will still have a job by the end of the meeting. I looked at their faces as they waited for me to begin, nervous smiles and quick nods as I looked over the room. Poor men with families to support looking at me, an uncertain future personified. Good men who I worked with through sandstorms and diphtheria, roasting heat and Taliban threats. In nine months with MSF, through numerous bomb blasts, wild automatic weapons fire and too many malnourished little babies to count, this has been the worst day.

I explained, with Jaweed translating, why this action was being taken and how the selection would be made. It was a decision based on security, not economics. From Amsterdam to project level, we have been desperate to get on site health care back to the IDP camp. After yesterdays visit we decided things were finally a go, but at a cost. I pushed for a maximum number of guards but was unsuccessful. Now I sat there looking at the devastating effect this decision had. Strong men who laughed and joked when working in blinding sandstorms cried. Others thanked me for breaking the news personally. The rest just walked from the room quietly. We have paid their salaries in full during the suspension and will continue to do so for another month as part of the severance package. It will help during the transition period and most of them will be able to find work constructing the new settlements. The people we retained will start readying the BHU on Wednesday.