However, such casualties were common for Kevin Baker during his recent five-week posting in Yemen with the humanitarian aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres. Dr Baker worked at a small hospital between two conflicting sides of a civil war.

``Late last year Medecins Sans Frontieres established a hospital in Haydan, which sits between the two armed groups of the region the government army and rebel alliance called the Al-Houthi,'' Dr Baker said.

``Although it was a precarious site for a hospital, it allowed access for the population and opposing armed groups to medical and surgical care.''

Dr Baker said that despite Yemen being one of the poorest countries in the Middle East, he was struck by the ``humour and friendliness of its inhabitants who were generous and brave''.

This was not the first time that Dr Baker undertook an overseas posting with Medecins Sans Frontieres. He worked with the organisation in Sri Lanka in 1997, in Liberia in 2004 and in Pakistan in 2005 after an earthquake ravaged the Kashmir region and killed 70,000 people.

``I've always felt a need to express my social justice and humanitarian beliefs,'' Dr Baker said. Medecins Sans Frontieres sends 3000 volunteer medical practitioners and support staff to work in trouble spots around the world every year.