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About Us

How we work

See what triggers an intervention and how supply and logistics allow our teams to respond quickly.

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How we're run

Discover our governance and what it means to be an association. Find a quick visual guide to our offices around the world.

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Reports and financials

Read through our annual financial and activity reports, and find out about where our funds come from and how they are spent.

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Accountability

Read the policies, reports, and plans on how we address issues like racism and reduce our carbon footprint, ensuring our actions align with the highest ethical standards.

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What we do

Médecins Sans Frontières brings medical humanitarian assistance to victims of conflict, natural disasters, epidemics or healthcare exclusion.

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Featured Cholera Gaza Israel war Mediterranean migration

Where we work

In more than 70 countries, Médecins Sans Frontières provides medical humanitarian assistance to save lives and ease the suffering of people in crisis situations.

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Featured Haiti Palestine Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

MSF Websites

A Global Network
Our offices around the world
Our offices around the world
Other Sites
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MSF Access

MSF Access pushes for access to, and the development of, life-saving and life-prolonging medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccines for people in our programmes and beyond.

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CRASH

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.

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UREPH

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.

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ARHP

Based in Barcelona, ARHP documents and reflects on the operational challenges and dilemmas faced by the MSF field teams.

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MSF Analysis

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.

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MSF Supply

This logistical and supply centre in Brussels provides storage of and delivers medical equipment, logistics and drugs for international purchases for MSF missions.

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MSF Logistique

This supply and logistics centre in Bordeaux, France, provides warehousing and delivery of medical equipment, logistics and drugs for international purchases for MSF missions.

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Amsterdam Procurement Unit

This logistical centre in Amsterdam purchases, tests, and stores equipment including vehicles, communications material, power supplies, water-processing facilities and nutritional supplements.

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Brazilian Medical Unit

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.

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MSF Medical Guidelines

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.

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Epicentre

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.

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Evaluation Units

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.

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LGBTQI+ Inclusion in Health Settings

MSF works with LGBTQI+ populations in many settings over the last 25-30 years. LGBTQI+ people face healthcare disparities with limited access to care and higher disease rates than the general population.

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LUXOR

The Luxembourg Operational Research (LuxOR) unit coordinates field research projects and operational research training, and provides support for documentation activities and routine data collection.

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MSF Academy for Healthcare

To upskill and provide training to locally-hired MSF staff in several countries, MSF has created the MSF Academy for Healthcare.

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Humanitarian Law

This Guide explains the terms, concepts, and rules of humanitarian law in accessible and reader-friendly alphabetical entries.

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MSF Paediatric Days

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.

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MSF Foundation

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.

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DNDi

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.

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MSF Science Portal

Our digital portal dedicated to sharing the latest medical evidence from our humanitarian activities around the globe.

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Noma

Noma is a preventable and treatable neglected disease, but 90 per cent of people will die within the first two weeks of infection if they do not receive treatment.

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TIC

The TIC is aiming to change how MSF works to better meet the evolving needs of our patients.

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Telemedicine

MSF's telemedicine hub aims to overcome geographic barriers for equitable, accessible, and quality patient care.

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Sweden Innovation Unit

Launched in 2012, the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit deploys a human-centered approach for promoting a culture of innovation within MSF.

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Geo MSF

The GeoMSF platform is a dynamic one-stop-shop website for all of MSF's GIS related services and products. Access maps and applications through the catalogue, request geographical support, or produce a map on GeoMSF.

GeoMSF
Ebola disease in DRC: find out how we're responding
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1793 Results
 
Nsanje, Malawi: Chrissy Kamanga, 37 years, a mother of three daughters was referred to Nsanje district hospital with late stage AIDS. He has advanced HIV with opportunistic infections TB and cryptococcal meningitis. She couldn’t talk or walk but is feeling better now. She has been on antiretrovirals for five years. Chrissy is an expert client at Tengani health center under Partners in Hope, a local nongovernmental organization. She helps in tracing patients who drop out of treatment. Chrissy’s husband Wisted Simbi, 44 years is caring for Chrissy. He says: “here I support my wife’s sister to shift, feed, wash or take her to the bath room. We relieve each other of these daily duties. My wife complained of backache and headache. We went to Tengani health centre and they referred us here. By this time, she couldn’t walk or talk. They welcomed us well and all the tests were done.” In 2016, an MSF survey of 1183 admissions in hospital over six months revealed that HIV inpatients accounted for 26 % of all admissions in male and female wards, and HIV deaths made up 54 % of all deaths. Over 80% of HIV admissions arrived in advanced stages of the disease (defined as a CD4 count
Access to medicines

Gilead fails to keep promise on access to lifesaving drug for people living with HIV

Inaction by US pharmaceutical corporation Gilead to follow through on its so-called ‘access initiative’ leaves people unable to access a vital drug to treat a deadly co-infection for HIV. Press Release - 27 Jun 2019
 
Most people in the shelters, where they wait to cross into the US, do not take to the streets due to the risk of imminent kidnapping. Migrants and refugees are exposed to risks of violence at the northern Mexican border.
Mexico

Mass arrests drive migrants underground and cut them off from medical care

MSF teams have witnessed an increase in mass arrests and raids on groups of migrants on Mexico’s southern border, with alarming consequences. Press Release - 19 Jun 2019
 
Community Care Giver Nonhlanhla Ngema delivers anti-retrovirals (ARVs) to Busisiwe and Sibongile, both members of her Community ART Group (CAG) in Sunnydale, Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been piloting CAGs as a model of care for stable HIV+ patients in rural districts of southern Africa, where HIV prevalence is at its highest. CAG members meet once every two months to review their health and arrange for collection of their ARVs without having to sit in long queues at clinics.
HIV/AIDS

HIV project in South Africa reaches 90-90-90 target one year ahead of deadline

A year before the UNAIDS 90-90-90 HIV testing and treatment deadline, an MSF survey has found that, in working with the community, the targets have been achieved in one MSF project with a high HIV prevalence. Press Release - 12 Jun 2019
 
After an extremely busy night on the Central Mediterranean, starting late on June 9 and into the early hours of June 10, the Aquarius has 630 people on board from six different operations. The rescue of two rubber boats turned critical when one boat broke apart in the darkness, leaving over 40 people in the water. After rescuing 230 people from these boats, the Aquarius then took 400 more people on board at the request of the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (IMRCC), who had been rescued by Italian navy and coastguard ships on 9 June. Over the next days, the Aquarius was embroiled in a political stand-off at sea over the fate of the people rescued in the Mediterranean. Although the rescue and transfers of the 630 people were initiated and coordinated by IMRCC, the Italian authorities denied Aquarius authorisation to bring them ashore in the closest port of safety in Italy. Malta, which had the nearest safe port, also refused to allow the Aquarius to disembark, citing Italy’s coordination role and responsibility.  Eventually, on 11 June, the Spanish government intervened and offered to let the Aquarius disembark in Valencia, 1,300 kilometres away. Despite MSF’s concerns about the humanitarian and medical impact of the sea journey to Valencia, the Italian authorities instructed Aquarius on 12 June to transfer 524 people back to Italian ships and embark with the remaining 106 rescued on a four-day journey to Spain. On June 17, one week after they had been rescued, all 630 people were disembarked in Valencia, Spain.
Mediterranean migration

European policies continue to claim lives on the Mediterranean Sea

A year on from Italy's decision to close its ports to search and rescue in the Mediterranean, people still attempt the crossing, with thousands dying, stranded at sea or illegally returned to Libya, exposing heartless European migration policies. Press Release - 12 Jun 2019
 
A mother looks after her child hospitalized at the MSF measles treatment center in Mayi-Munene, Kamwesha (Kasai).
Democratic Republic of Congo

Massive mobilisation urgently needed to curb fast-spreading measles outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently tackling a measles outbreak which is likely to be the country's deadliest since 2012. MSF teams are responding, but more resources are urgently needed from national and international partners to curb the spread of the contagious disease. Press Release - 11 Jun 2019
 
Arnal Lual, 13, and her brother-in- law, Paulino Deng, are from Majbong. Arnal was bitten on the leg when she stepped on a Puff Adder while playing outside her neighbour’s house in the evening. They came to the hospital in a vehicle , but it got stuck in the mud on the road for an hour and a half. Arnal was in pain and her leg continued to swell. They ended up walking for two hours to reach the Agok hospital. There, she received antivenom and had several operations.
Snakebite

WHO launches strategy to cut snakebite deaths and disabilities in half

Médecins Sans Frontières welcomes the release of the long-anticipated World Health Organization (WHO) strategy on the prevention and control of snakebite envenoming, aiming to cut in half the number of snakebite deaths and cases of disability by 2030. Press Release - 23 May 2019
 
In March 12, the MSF healthcare center was fully functional and already receiving patients. Al Hol camp, Al Hassakeh Governorate
Syria

Women and children continue to suffer in northeast Syria’s Al Hol camp

Vulnerable people, mostly women and children, are living in overcrowded and substandard conditions in Al Hol camp, northeastern Syria, where a humanitarian crisis has unfolded and the needs of people in the camp remain unmet. Press Release - 16 May 2019
 
General view of detention centre On September 2nd, 276 people were brought by the Libyan coast guard to Khoms (120 km east of Tripoli). They were then transferred to detention center where MSF works. Reportedly, they were in two rubber coats, one stopped due to engine failure, while the other boat continued to navigate for several hours before deflating and sinking. Survivors told MSF teams that over a hundred people died in the shipwreck.
Libya

Time running out for evacuations of trapped refugees in Tripoli amid shooting

On 23 April, reports surfaced of a violent incident in a Tripoli detention centre, where trapped migrants are being held. MSF has found evidence that multiple people were shot, and urges for all migrants' immediate evacuation. Press Release - 26 Apr 2019
 
Caretaker with a patient coming from Taiz city to the mother and child hospital in Taiz houban.
Yemen

Mothers and children left to die in Yemen without access to medical care

A new MSF report describes how pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to high rates of mortality due to a lack of easy access to hospitals in Yemen's war-torn healthcare system. Press Release - 24 Apr 2019
 
Chechele IDP camp, one of the largest sites near the small town of Banko Gotiti, in the Gedeo area of south Ethiopia. Thousands of people live in the camp, in huts made of leaves from the common ‘false banana’ tree. These huts will not withstand the heavy downpours of the approaching rainy season, and will not provide protection when the nights become bitterly cold.
Ethiopia

Alarming rates of malnutrition among displaced people in southern Ethiopia

Alarming rates of malnutrition among children and pregnant women in displaced people’s camps in southern Ethiopia have forced MSF to launch an emergency response. Press Release - 17 Apr 2019
Four mothers posing in a corridor of the Hospital in Bili. All four of them are staying in the hospital with their child, that's suffering from a severe case of malaria. Since the beginning of the project in 2016, the pediatric ward already treated more than 4.000 cases of complicated/severe form of malaria.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Independent medical humanitarian assistance

We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence and impartiality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

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