In more than 70 countries, Médecins Sans Frontières provides medical humanitarian assistance to save lives and ease the suffering of people in crisis situations.
We set up the MSF Access Campaign in 1999 to push for access to, and the development of, life-saving and life-prolonging medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccines for people in our programmes and beyond.
Based in Paris, CRASH conducts and directs studies and analysis of MSF actions. They participate in internal training sessions and assessment missions in the field.
Based in Geneva, UREPH (or Research Unit) aims to improve the way MSF projects are implemented in the field and to participate in critical thinking on humanitarian and medical action.
Based in Brussels, MSF Analysis intends to stimulate reflection and debate on humanitarian topics organised around the themes of migration, refugees, aid access, health policy and the environment in which aid operates.
This logistical and supply centre in Brussels provides storage of and delivers medical equipment, logistics and drugs for international purchases for MSF missions.
This supply and logistics centre in Bordeaux, France, provides warehousing and delivery of medical equipment, logistics and drugs for international purchases for MSF missions.
This logistical centre in Amsterdam purchases, tests, and stores equipment including vehicles, communications material, power supplies, water-processing facilities and nutritional supplements.
SAMU provides strategic, clinical and implementation support to various MSF projects with medical activities related to HIV and TB. This medical unit is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
BRAMU specialises in neglected tropical diseases, such as dengue and Chagas, and other infectious diseases. This medical unit is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Our medical guidelines are based on scientific data collected from MSF’s experiences, the World Health Organization (WHO), other renowned international medical institutions, and medical and scientific journals.
Providing epidemiological expertise to underpin our operations, conducting research and training to support our goal of providing medical aid in areas where people are affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or excluded from health care.
Evaluation Units have been established in Vienna, Stockholm, and Paris, assessing the potential and limitations of medical humanitarian action, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of our medical humanitarian work.
The Luxembourg Operational Research (LuxOR) unit coordinates field research projects and operational research training, and provides support for documentation activities and routine data collection.
The MSF Paediatric Days is an event for paediatric field staff, policy makers and academia to exchange ideas, align efforts, inspire and share frontline research to advance urgent paediatric issues of direct concern for the humanitarian field.
The MSF Foundation aims to create a fertile arena for logistics and medical knowledge-sharing to meet the needs of MSF and the humanitarian sector as a whole.
A collaborative, patients’ needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development organisation that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases, founded in 2003 by seven organisations from around the world.
We respond to emergencies and assist people fleeing violence and armed conflict. In 2019 and 2020, we responded to the country's biggest-ever Ebola outbreak, in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
We run some of our largest programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 2019, we worked in 21 of out of the country's 26 provinces and responded to one of the biggest outbreaks of measles in decades. We also worked with people displaced by conflict, and those with health problems such as HIV/AIDS.
People have little access to healthcare, and disease outbreaks are frequent due to poor surveillance and infrastructure. Violence has led to crises in the Kivus, Tanganyika and Kasai regions, and has forced millions to flee. Three of our staff, abducted in North Kivu in 2013, are still missing.
We are currently responding to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in DRC.
MSF staff have responded to two separate outbreaks of Ebola in less than two years in DRC; the most recent - and still ongoing - outbreak has left over 3,000 people infected, and claimed over 2,000 lives. We are providing treatment to people with Ebola and supporting non-Ebola healthcare needs.
02Conflict and displacement
Armed conflict has triggered massive movements of people and their needs are immense. We provide emergency responses in the areas affected, notably currently in North and South Kivu, Kasai, Ituri and Tanganyika among others. We treat the wounded, cover basic health needs and adapt our services accordingly.
03HIV/AIDS
We support the national HIV/AIDS programme, which is implemented by the country's health authorities. Our teams work on improving access to screening and treatment, reinforcing treatment adherence, and patient retention. Awareness-raising through community-based activities is an important part of our projects.
04Malaria
According to official statistics in DRC, malaria causes four times more deaths per year than conflict, meningitis, cholera, measles and respiratory diseases combined. Children are the most severely affected. Most of our projects include malaria care. We also carry out emergency interventions to contain outbreaks.
05Outbreak response
DRC is prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as measles, yellow fever and cholera. We run mobile teams, which can be quickly deployed in emergencies. Among our responses to outbreaks of communicable diseases are vaccination campaigns, case management (including surgeries), health promotion and water and sanitation activities. Ebola outbreaks are also recurrent in DRC, and we support local authorities in the response.
Many of our projects have an important component of women's health. Sexual violence is also a major issue in DRC, affecting men and boys as well as women and girls. We provide medical and psychological support, organise family planning activities, antenatal and postnatal consultations, and treat patients for sexually transmitted diseases.
07Malnutrition
In 2017, we observed an increase in admissions for malnutrition in all our medical structures. This is due to violence-triggered displacement, a bad agricultural season, and less funding. We are treating malnutrition in North Kivu, South Kivu and Kasai provinces.
In 2019
3,800
3,8
people admitted to Ebola treatment centres
170
17
admitted patients confirmed as having Ebola
1977
1977
Year MSF first worked in the country
Democratic Republic of Congo
Even during a widespread measles epidemic, we can save kids’ lives
Interview14 Feb 2019
DRC Ebola outbreaks
Potential new Ebola drugs being trialled in MSF treatment centres
Statement12 Feb 2019
Photo Story
South Kivu: Marathon journeys to access basic medical care
8 Feb 2019
Photo Story
Democratic Republic of Congo
Ten thousand people living in desperate conditions in northeastern DRC
Project Update7 Feb 2019
DRC Ebola outbreaks
Ebola patient care increases amid growing tensions in North Kivu
Project Update18 Jan 2019
DRC Ebola outbreaks
Ebola in DRC: This has touched my heart forever
msf.org14 Jan 2019
DRC Ebola outbreaks
Ebola spreads further into urban communities and isolated areas in North Kivu
Project Update3 Dec 2018
Democratic Republic of Congo
Mortality among malnourished children on the rise in Masisi
Project Update29 Nov 2018
Sleeping Sickness
Fexinidazole: A doctor's dream
dndi.org19 Nov 2018
Reports & Analysis
Sleeping Sickness
Fexinidazole: A doctor's dream
dndi.org19 Nov 2018
DRC Ebola outbreaks
Ebola in the DRC: between operational trial and error and scientific uncertainty
msf-crash.org26 Oct 2018
Democratic Republic of Congo
Left behind by the HIV response - Kinshasa
MSF Access campaign.1 Dec 2017
Democratic Republic of Congo
Violence and its humanitarian impact: the case of Kivu
MSF-Analysis.16 Jan 2017
Democratic Republic of Congo
MSF releases report on shocking humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Press Release3 Mar 2014
Related Topics
In Focus
DRC Ebola outbreaks
Since March 2018, DRC has experienced a succession of Ebola outbreaks. On 1 June 2020, DRC declared another outbreak – the third since 2018 – in northwestern Équateur province, making it the country's eleventh in just over 40 years.
Medical Activities
HIV/AIDS
Nearly 700,000 people died from AIDS, while 1.7 million people became newly infected with the HIV virus in 2019.
Crisis Settings
War and conflict
Around one-quarter of our humanitarian and medical assistance is for populations caught in armed conflict.
Medical Activities
Women's health
An estimated 99 per cent of women who die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications live in developing countries. Most of these deaths are preventable.
Medical Activities
Ebola and Marburg
Ebola and Marburg haemorrhagic fevers are rare but deadly. Outbreaks can kill 25 to 90 per cent of those infected, spreading fear and panic. No cure exists and treatment is mainly symptomatic.
Crisis Settings
Epidemics and pandemics
Millions of people still die each year from infectious diseases that are preventable or can be treated.
