Doctors Without Borders, the international medical charity that helps people in need throughout the world has announced it would be stopping all activities in the war-torn nation of Iraq because it could no longer guarantee the safety of its workers. Doctors Without Borders has had a constant presence in Iraq since December 2002, before the U.S. led invasion overthrew Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

According to the organization, 'the warring parties have repeatedly shown their disrespect for independent humanitarian assistance.' Both sides were blamed for helping to prevent medical care from reaching citizens at need since the outbreak of the war.

Security was the biggest issue according to a statement issued by Gorik Ooms, the group's general director.

'It has become impossible for MSF (Doctors Without Borders) as an organization to guarantee an acceptable level of security for our staff, be they foreign or Iraqi,' the statement said.

The pullout of Doctors Without Borders comes two weeks after the Baghdad diretor of CARE International, Margaret Hassan was kidnapped by insurgents. A recent video released by the insurgents holding Hassan showed her pleading for her life and raised imminent questions about her safety.

Doctors Without Borders also pulled out of Afghanistan in July due to safety concerns. The organization had been in that warring country since 1980.