Who We Are

Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical aid organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries. 

Founded in Paris, in 1971, by a small group of doctors and journalists, it is now an international movement. Currently, MSF has branch offices in 19 countries (5 operational centres based in Europe and 14 additional national sections).

In 2008, volunteer medical and non-medical professionals departed on more than 3,800 missions and joined approximately 22,500 locally hired staff to provide aid in projects around the world. 

MSF is independent of all political, religious, military or economic influences.

MSF’s ability to make independent decisions about how and where to spend its resources is made possible by the organization’s financial independence. Since MSF was founded, millions of donors around the world have made a financial commitment, alongside MSF, to support its operations. This participation can take the form of a one-off donation or a regular direct debit, which guarantees the sustainability of our resources and our operations.

MSF's goal is to save lives and alleviate suffering, by working directly with those in need: the organisation endeavour to provide the best medical care possible to those in distress.

MSF provides relief and medical assistance to people living through a crisis that threatens their physical and mental well-being. More than half of MSF's field volunteers are surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, midwives, psychiatrists, psychologists, epidemiologists, doctors, pharmacists or laboratory assistants. Whether in a context of war, epidemic, or famine, they operate on the wounded, care for the sick, conduct immunization campaigns, set up medical feeding programs, and provide psychological care for those suffering from trauma. They also help restore and re-equip existing health-care services, and provide training for medical personnel.

MSF provides aid to endangered populations, free of all ethnic, political, religious or economic discrimination.

MSF acts with full independence, after evaluating people's medical needs. The organization only operates where it can evaluate those needs freely, gain unrestricted access to the people concerned, and exert direct control over relief operations, focusing primarily on those in the most grave and immediate danger. MSF never takes sides in armed conflicts, thus adhering to the principle of neutrality. Neutrality is not, however, synonymous with silence.