What is MSF?

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid in more than 60 countries to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters or exclusion from healthcare.

Each year, MSF sends out 3,000 doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, administrators and other professionals to work alongside approximately 25,000 locally hired staff.

Helena gets a chance to talk to her son Moses who is an Ebola confirmed patient. A MSF health promoter supports this difficult moment for the young mother as she is too overwhelmed with what to say. The health promoter advises her to say positive things such as „I am waiting here outside for you“ or „I am thinking of you non Stop“

MSF played a key role in responding to the West Africa Ebola outbreak 2014. Foya, Liberia October 2014: Helena gets a chance to talk to her son Moses who is an Ebola confirmed patient. A MSF health promoter supports this difficult moment for the young mother as she is too overwhelmed with what to say. The health promoter advises her to say positive things such as „I am waiting here outside for you“ or „I am thinking of you. Photo: Martin Zinngl/MSF

In emergencies and their aftermath, MSF provides essential healthcare, rehabilitates and runs hospitals and clinics, performs surgery, tackles epidemics, carries out vaccination campaigns, operates feeding centres for malnourished children and offers psychological support.

When needed, MSF also constructs wells and dispenses clean drinking water and distributes materials like blankets, plastic sheeting and other basic necessities.

MSF distributes tons of roofing materials in Gorkha District, Nepal on May 7 2015. MSF provides material to families so that they have the opportunity to rebuild their homes. The teams also distributes blankets, hygiene and kitchen kits by helicopters to remote villages. On 25 April a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed more than 8,000 people and destroyed massive amounts of property, including numerous temples that were on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
MSF distributes tons of roofing materials to people living in remote mountain areas so they can rebuild their homes following the Nepal Earthquake. May 7 2015. Photo: Brian Sokol/Panos

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.

This preventive vaccination campaign is the largest ever launched by MSF in CAR, and one of the first in the world to protect children under five years against so many diseases. Cette campagne de vaccination préventive est la plus importante jamais lancée par MSF en République Centrafricaine, et l’une des premières au monde visant à protéger les enfants de moins de cinq ans contre autant de maladies.

September 2015: MSF launches a preventive vaccination campaign to reach 220,000 children in Central African Republic. It is the largest ever launched by MSF in the country which has been plagued by internal conflict, and one of the first in the world to protect children under five years against so many diseases. Photo: Anthony Fouchard

As an independent and self-directed organisation, MSF’s actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality. This means that MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF was awarded the International Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

Find out how your donation makes a difference at msf.org.uk

Not from the UK? Visit MSF’s international site and find your local MSF.

Read first-hand accounts from MSF’s staff and patients around the world.

MSF UK English Registered Charity No. 1026588 © Crown Copyright 2006