Book Title: Hope in Hell: Inside the World of Doctors Without Borders

Book Description:

In a newly established maternity center in Haiti, Dr. Lai, a Canadian physician, delivers forty newborns a day.

Dr. Corsi, an Italian physician, illegally crosses the border into South Sudan, treating numerous war casualties with gunshot and blast wounds in temperatures reaching 50°C.

Surgeon Zhang Wei performs hundreds of amputations in one of the most heavily landmined cities in the world.

Logistics expert Martin must deal with Colombian warlords and drug-addled child soldiers in Sierra Leone just to transport refrigerated vaccines.

Dr. Frank, an American physician, crosses the ceasefire line in Bouaké to perform countless emergency surgical operations at a local hospital, staying constantly prepared to flee local armed militias.

When war breaks out and UN staff and their families line up in massive queues at airports waiting to evacuate, Doctors Without Borders personnel are arriving at immigration, preparing to execute emergency missions... and every doctor and logistics expert carries the survival pressure of both themselves and numerous refugees. Whenever armed militants begin attacking Doctors Without Borders personnel, resulting in the kidnapping and death of physicians and logistics experts, and headquarters issues a withdrawal order, the very first thing they think about is: if they leave, what will happen to these refugees?

In 1971, a determined and outspoken French doctor witnessed the man-made famine caused by the Nigerian military. Upon returning home, he broke the neutrality pact and revealed the facts to the media, declaring that "silence can surely kill." Together with a journalist, he co-founded Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders. The organization began deploying to war zones, famines, and other man-made or natural disasters worldwide to provide immediate medical and humanitarian aid.

During the 1980s, MSF leaped onto the international stage as the "cowboys of emergency relief," renowned globally for their swift action, outspoken nature, and an operational style of "doing what shouldn't be done but doing it anyway." When other relief organizations withdrew due to danger or local authorities, MSF still managed to bypass political obstacles to enter every region in need of support. They held fast to the belief that anyone has the right to receive humanitarian medical assistance, providing aid to victims regardless of their identity, race, religion, or political affiliation.

Their presence tells the suffering locals that the world has not abandoned them...

In 1999, due to its outstanding and pioneering achievements in humanitarian relief work, Doctors Without Borders was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. However, when the representative took the stage to deliver the acceptance speech, they bluntly stated that what they did would never be enough; physicians can never stop genocide, but a seemingly neutral silence is the ultimate accomplice.

During the Rwandan genocide, MSF was the first to step forward and accuse the Rwandan government of manipulation, strongly demanding that the United Nations intervene to halt the slaughter. Yet, they never expected that the refugee camps they established on the Rwandan border would be exploited by the Rwandan government as the ideal resting ground to supply the perpetrators of the massacre. To leave or to stay? Humanitarian action once again faced its bloodiest challenge.

Today, Doctors Without Borders has become the world's largest independent humanitarian medical organization, with sections in 28 countries and project relief work in 80 countries. It still upholds the spirit with which it was founded over forty years ago, fearlessly exposing any violations of human rights or violent incidents on the international stage. Amidst humanity's never-ending disasters, they continue to venture deep into the front lines and extremely resource-scarce zones to help those forgotten in the corners of the world.

From emergency rooms in Haiti to refugee camps in Afghanistan, from the jungles of Sudan to the borders of Rwanda—for the people living on the edge of the world, they are the hope in hell.

In addition to introducing in detail the highly dramatic founding process of Doctors Without Borders and the consistent philosophy it upholds, the author provides an in-depth report on various phenomena and issues faced by humanitarian organizations. Through interviews with doctors, nurses, and logistics staff working on the ground in remote regions, the book exposes the human suffering and ugly truths faced by MSF members that are seldom known to the outside world. It also profiles the participating doctors and the psychological impact they experience. Through the real-life stories they encountered one after another, it takes readers deep into understanding the relief work of MSF, their motivations for joining, the crises and frustrations they confront, and the massive internal conflicts they face upon returning to their original societies—and underneath it all, the reasons why they remain willing to risk their lives day after day to keep persevering.

◎This book is the 5th Anniversary Revised Edition◎

Heartfelt Endorsements:

Guang Yu / UFO Radio Host

Lin Jin-Xiu / Medical and Technology Reporter for the United Evening News

Cheng Wen-Chun / Superintendent of Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Li Xie-Pei / Director of the Humanitarian Relief Department at the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF)

Tan Ai-Zhen / Veteran Performing Artist

Lan Xuan / Radio and Television Program Host

Special Recommendation Essay:

Yang Wei-Ling / Founder of the Kapok Educational and Cultural Service Association

Media Acclaim:

"The author's delicate depiction of the emotional side of the Doctors Without Borders team members makes this book truly shine. Having participated in a mission in Afghanistan myself, I found the author's writing incredibly realistic. The poignant stories of the volunteers, combined with a raw portrayal of the inner workings of Médecins Sans Frontières, make this book highly informative and deeply moving." — The New England Journal of Medicine

"This book can simultaneously break your heart and fill you with hope for humanity. The stories and photographs within expose both the worst evil and the most beautiful good that we humans can offer one another." — Ingram Book Services

"Beautifully written... Bortolotti’s reporting mostly features the headlines that newspapers and magazines missed, making this eye-opening narrative all the more spine-chilling and rendering the achievements of Doctors Without Borders all the more remarkable." (Starred Review) — Booklist

"Anyone interested in the realities of public healthcare should read Bortolotti's reporting... It can be described as a meticulously detailed portrait." — The Lancet

"A nuanced portrayal of an organization that has captured the public's romantic imagination... This exceptionally smooth and readable book helps us understand how far-reaching the impact of many Doctors Without Borders projects is, and how it drives many volunteers to manifest a humanitarian spirit during the execution of these projects." — Tucson Citizen

"This book will by no means disappoint you; it presents many gripping stories... It will undoubtedly capture the interest of a broad readership." — The Paper & Pencil Book Review Magazine

"This book is well worth reading for future international aid volunteers, interested donors, and indeed everyone who cares about and values what Doctors Without Borders calls 'the human rights and dignity of others.'" — The Globe and Mail

"Though its pages are filled with blood and gore, more importantly, it conveys a powerful conviction in humanity, making it impossible to put down." — The Time Daily

About the Authors:

Author: Dan Bortolotti

Born in Toronto in 1969, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Waterloo, Canada, in 1992. Now a journalist, he has published seven books to date. In 2003, his books Exploring Saturn and Pandas were finalists for the Science in Society Book Awards. His reporting has appeared in more than twenty North American publications, such as the Canadian English-language news weekly Maclean's, the Canadian literary and political monthly Saturday Night, and the Canadian daily newspaper National Post. He also writes personal finance articles for several Canadian magazines. His work has been nominated six times for the National Magazine Award. He is also the creator and author of the personal finance and investment blog Canadian Couch Potato. He currently resides with his family in the town of Aurora, north of Toronto.

Related Works:

Translator: Lin Xin-Yi

Because she discovered heaven amidst the light and shadows of words, she abandoned a career in business for literature. Formerly a publishing house editor, she is now a full-time translator. Her translated works include books such as The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 4), The Wolf Chronicles: Ancient Precepts, The IQ Leap Before Age Five, Wonders of the World's National Parks: US National Parks, and 30 Minutes to Establish a Quality Image.

• The Emergency Room Under Gunfire: The Struggle of Doctors Without Borders