Doctors Without Borders pulls out of UN humanitarian summit
PARIS - The international medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has decided to pull out of the first U.N. humanitarian summit, saying the meeting won't address the growing needs caused by war and violence across the world because of its non-binding nature.
Eighty governments and 45 world leaders are expected to attend the first UN humanitarian summit in Istanbul on May 23-24. About 6,000 people, including 250 private sector leaders, heads of humanitarian organizations and representatives of civil society, affected communities and youth, will also take part in the summit.
But MSF said in a statement Wednesday that it's pulling out "with considerable disappointment" because "we no longer have any hope that the (summit) will address the weaknesses in humanitarian action and emergency response, particularly in conflict areas or epidemic situations."
