About
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in more than 75 countries.
Each year, MSF doctors, nurses, logistics specialists, water-and-sanitation experts, administrators, and other medical and non-medical professionals depart on more than 3000 field assignments. They work alongside more than 25000 locally hired staff to provide medical care.
In emergencies and their aftermath, MSF provides health care, rehabilitates and runs hospitals and clinics, performs surgery, battles epidemics, carries out vaccination campaigns, operates feeding centres for malnourished children, and offers mental health care. When needed, MSF also constructs wells, dispenses clean drinking water, and provides shelter materials such as blankets and plastic sheeting.
Through longer-term programmes, MSF treats patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, sleeping sickness, and HIV/AIDS, and provides medical and psychological care to marginalised groups such as street children.
MSF was founded in 1971 as a non-governmental organisation to both provide emergency medical assistance and bear witness publicly to the plight of the people it assists. A private non-profit association, MSF is an international network with offices in 19 countries.
© Frederique Daval
Each year, MSF doctors, nurses, logistics specialists, water-and-sanitation experts, administrators, and other medical and non-medical professionals depart on more than 3000 field assignments. They work alongside more than 25000 locally hired staff to provide medical care.
In emergencies and their aftermath, MSF provides health care, rehabilitates and runs hospitals and clinics, performs surgery, battles epidemics, carries out vaccination campaigns, operates feeding centres for malnourished children, and offers mental health care. When needed, MSF also constructs wells, dispenses clean drinking water, and provides shelter materials such as blankets and plastic sheeting.
Through longer-term programmes, MSF treats patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, sleeping sickness, and HIV/AIDS, and provides medical and psychological care to marginalised groups such as street children.
MSF was founded in 1971 as a non-governmental organisation to both provide emergency medical assistance and bear witness publicly to the plight of the people it assists. A private non-profit association, MSF is an international network with offices in 19 countries.
© Frederique Daval
Responding to Emergencies
MSF is often one of the first humanitarian organisations to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Its large-scale logistical capacity ensures that MSF emergency teams hit the ground with the specialised medical kits and equipment they need to start saving lives immediately.
Custom-designed by MSF for specific field situations, geographic conditions, and climates, a kit may contain a complete operating room, or all of the supplies needed to treat hundreds of cholera patients. MSF kits and medical protocols have been replicated by relief organisations worldwide.
MSF has proven expertise in the field of epidemiology and is often called on to monitor, diagnose and control outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, meningitis and measles.
© Dominick Tyler
Custom-designed by MSF for specific field situations, geographic conditions, and climates, a kit may contain a complete operating room, or all of the supplies needed to treat hundreds of cholera patients. MSF kits and medical protocols have been replicated by relief organisations worldwide.
MSF has proven expertise in the field of epidemiology and is often called on to monitor, diagnose and control outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, meningitis and measles.
© Dominick Tyler
Independent Humanitarian Action
MSF’s decision to intervene in any country or crisis is based solely on an independent assessment of people's needs — not on political, economic or religious interests. MSF does not take sides and never intervenes according to the demands of governments or warring parties.
MSF volunteers frequently work in the most remote or dangerous parts of the world. When crises unfold, they make themselves and their skills available at short notice, usually dedicating six to twelve months to each assignment. Their expenses are covered and they receive a modest stipend.
MSF teams are composed of international volunteers and skilled local staff. Together, they work closely with national medical professionals and cooperate with other aid organisations.
© Jean-Marc Giboux
MSF volunteers frequently work in the most remote or dangerous parts of the world. When crises unfold, they make themselves and their skills available at short notice, usually dedicating six to twelve months to each assignment. Their expenses are covered and they receive a modest stipend.
MSF teams are composed of international volunteers and skilled local staff. Together, they work closely with national medical professionals and cooperate with other aid organisations.
© Jean-Marc Giboux
Speaking Out to End Suffering
MSF unites direct medical care with a commitment to speaking out against the causes of suffering and the obstacles to providing effective assistance. MSF volunteers raise the concerns of their patients with governments, the United Nations, other international bodies, the general public and the media. In a wide range of circumstances, MSF volunteers have spoken out when they have witnessed violations of international humanitarian law — from Chechnya to Sudan.
Based on its field experience, MSF is addressing obstacles preventing people in the developing world from obtaining affordable, effective treatments for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Through its Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, MSF is advocating to lower drug prices, stimulate research and development of new treatments, and overcome trade and other barriers to accessing treatments.
Worldwide, MSF raises public awareness of the plight of people at risk. The organisation sends field volunteers and staff to speak at international and national conferences, and arranges informational events and travelling exhibitions.
Based on its field experience, MSF is addressing obstacles preventing people in the developing world from obtaining affordable, effective treatments for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Through its Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, MSF is advocating to lower drug prices, stimulate research and development of new treatments, and overcome trade and other barriers to accessing treatments.
Worldwide, MSF raises public awareness of the plight of people at risk. The organisation sends field volunteers and staff to speak at international and national conferences, and arranges informational events and travelling exhibitions.
Financial Independence and Accountability
To maintain its operational independence and flexibility, MSF relies on the general public for more than 80% of its operating funds. In 2005, 86% of MSF’s income came from private sources. More than 3.4 million individual donors and private funders worldwide made this possible. The remaining 14% of funds came from international agencies and governments. Please click here to view our most recent financial reports.
