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Chris is Currently Out Of The Office

Chris is Currently Out Of The Office was a blog published by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders from 2009 to 2015. Click on the images for each individual blog article.


Please note that this blog represents the views of an outsider, a Western humanitarian experiencing a country in its worst times, not its typical times. Every story here is about a rich, vibrant, diverse nation. Humanitarian work is overwhelmingly done by local workers who get less opportunities to write blogs and feature in newspapers. For stories written by people affected by conflict, please read Humans In Flight or Though Our Eyes and please prioritize local knowledge and experiences over Scottish humanitarians who spend a few months somewhere.

Trying to Stop Babies Dying

Trying to Stop Babies Dying

Trying to Stop Babies Dying

Quetta Pediatric Hospital, Pakistan (December 2015)

Back

Trying to Stop Babies Dying

Trying to Stop Babies Dying

Chris returns to the UK from Nigeria and experiences reverse culture shock (April 2011)

December's Cholera

Trying to Stop Babies Dying

December's Cholera

Cholera hits North West Nigeria (April 2011)

Malaria Blog

Flooding in Kagara

December's Cholera

While on R&R in Canada, Chris is diagnosed with Malaria (October 2010)

Flooding Worsens

Flooding in Kagara

Flooding in Kagara

The scale of the flooding becomes clearer. A dam busts, creating havoc. Nigeria (September 2010)

Flooding in Kagara

Flooding in Kagara

Flooding in Kagara

Despite government statements to the contrary, Goronyo Dam busts, creating havoc. Nigeria (September 2010)


See also Floods in Nigeria: 'All their homes, crops, and food destroyed' MSF/Chris Houston

Emergency Planning

Emergency Planning

Emergency Planning

Chris reports on e-prep. Nigeria (August 2010)


See also Logistics in the Field Logistics Manager

Goronyo Visit

Emergency Planning

Emergency Planning

Chris visits MSF's Lead Poisoning Remediation Program. Nigeria (July 2010)


See also Lead Poisoning Crisis in Zamfara State ,Northern Nigerira MSF

Arrival in Nigeria

Emergency Planning

Arrival in Nigeria

Chris arrives in Nigeria. (July 2010)

The End

Leaving Lae and a New Logistician

Arrival in Nigeria

Chris reflects on his time in Papua New Guinea. (December 2009)

Last Days

Leaving Lae and a New Logistician

Leaving Lae and a New Logistician

Chris helps local healthcare worker Norman respond to an influx of trauma patients. Papua New Guinea (October 2009)

Leaving Lae and a New Logistician

Leaving Lae and a New Logistician

Leaving Lae and a New Logistician

Cholera and security incidents dominate Chris's handover to his replacement. Papua New Guinea (October 2009)

Cholera! Cholera!

Smiles and Bushknives

Smiles and Bushknives

Cholera outbreak in Papua New Guinea (September 2009)


See also 2,000 hit by Papua New Guinea cholera outbreak The Independent

Smiles and Bushknives

Smiles and Bushknives

Smiles and Bushknives

Chris reflects on the friendly hospitality of Papua New Guinea and the prevalence of violence. (August 2009)

Tari, First Weeks

Smiles and Bushknives

Saturday 18th July 2009

Chris moves to Tari to manage the logistics at Tari Hospital. (August 2009)

Saturday 18th July 2009

Saturday 18th July 2009

Saturday 18th July 2009

A colleague is attacked. Papua New Guinea (July 2009)

Data

Saturday 18th July 2009

Shopping in PNG

Chris writes about the systemic data capture of sexual and gender-based violence. Papua New Guinea (July 2009)


See also Return to Abuser: Gaps in services and a failure to protect survivors of family and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea MSF 2016

Shopping in PNG

Saturday 18th July 2009

Shopping in PNG

The challenges of managing logistics. Papua New Guinea (June 2009)

Did You Have a nice Day at Work Today?

Did You Have a nice Day at Work Today?

Did You Have a nice Day at Work Today?

Sexual and gender-based violence, Papua New Guinea (June 2009)

The Medics

Did You Have a nice Day at Work Today?

Did You Have a nice Day at Work Today?

Sexual and gender-based violence, Papua New Guinea (June 2009)

My Day Off

Did You Have a nice Day at Work Today?

Half Way There Now

David Jerry in "Mobile 2"

Vehicle troubles. Papua New Guinea (June 2009)

Half Way There Now

Everything is Broken

Half Way There Now

 Anti-immigrant protests rock Lae, Papua New Guinea. (May 2009)

Mixed Emotions

Everything is Broken

Everything is Broken

Chris is falling in love with PNG, but is disturbed by the work. (April 2009)

Everything is Broken

Everything is Broken

Everything is Broken

Boss Fred comes to town, the Tari team are attacked. Papua New Guinea (March 2009)

Outreach, Rugby Training and "A Miracle"

Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours

Outreach, Rugby Training and "A Miracle"

Community outreach and an unexpected chain of events. Papua New Guinea (February 2009)

Worries

Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours

Outreach, Rugby Training and "A Miracle"

Chris reflects on managing logistics in Papua New Guinea. (February 2009)

Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours

Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours

Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours

Chris gets to know his new temporary home, Lae, Papua New Guinea. (February 2009)

First Impressions

Frequently Asked Questions

Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours

Chris experiences his first earthquake and gets to know MSF's sexual and gender-based violence in Lae, Papua New Guinea (January 2009)

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Chris prepares to head to Papua New Guinea. (July 2009)

See Also

Stories of Peace

Stories of Peace

Stories of Peace

Chris's weekly newspaper column.

Media Work

Stories of Peace

Stories of Peace

Media appearances and writing by Chris.

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