Surgery in low-income countries during crisis: experience at Medecins Sans Frontieres facilities in 20 countries between 2008 and 2014*

The global burden of trauma and surgical conditions fall disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [1, 2]. Inopportunely, developing countries are least equipped to provide essential surgical care [3]. As a result, LMICs have a significant burden of unmet surgical needs [4]. When these fragile health systems are disrupted by conflict, a natural disaster or an epidemic the capacity for and quality of surgical care decreases even further [5]. In response, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provides surgical humanitarian assistance in countries affected by crisis through one of the five operation centres; one of these is Operations Centre Brussels (OCB).