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.
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.
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.
Many people are unable to access healthcare simply because of who they are. They may be afraid to seek help, or are excluded because they are forced to live outside of mainstream societal bounds.
People who are excluded include undocumented migrants, street children, sex workers, prisoners, drug addicts or the mentally ill. Sometimes, entire communities are systematically neglected by relevant authorities. These might be people who live in slums, or communities hit by criminal violence and gang warfare. Our teams provide medical, psychological and social support to people cut off from health services. Our work also involves drawing attention to the obstacles patients face in accessing healthcare.
Libya
Ongoing violence against detained migrants forces MSF to suspend Tripoli detention centre activities
Press Release22 Jun 2021
Featured
Palestine
“For one year no one came here” to provide medical care in the West Bank
5 Jan 2021
video
Violence in Guerrero, Mexico
Violence in Guerrero, Mexico
Since 2016, MSF has run mobile clinics in Guerrero, Mexico - one of Mexico's most violent states. Violence is something that affects different communities in the state of Guerrero, mainly due to fighting between different organised crime groups over the cultivation of poppies and avocados. This violence causes communities in the affected villages to live in confinement and leaves people without access to healthcare or education. Our teams attempt to fill these gaps through mobile clinics offering health services including preventive measure against COVID-19.
Iran
After a cold night on the streets, a warm reception
Voices from the Field6 Nov 2019
Central American Migration
More people kidnapped, abused on migration route in southern Mexico
Press Release30 Oct 2019
France
Unaccompanied minors, symbols of a policy of mistreatment
Report10 Sep 2019
France
Rejected and traumatised: Unaccompanied minors arriving in France
Project Update10 Sep 2019
Niger
MSF teams forced to leave Maïné Soroa after two years
Interview9 Aug 2019
Haiti
People’s healthcare in danger amidst worsening anger and despair
Project Update5 Jul 2019
Research & Analysis
France
Unaccompanied minors, symbols of a policy of mistreatment
Report10 Sep 2019
Italy
Migrants and refugees on the margins of society
Report8 Feb 2018
Greece
EU border policies fuel mental health crisis for asylum seekers
Report10 Oct 2017
Colombia
People suffer high levels of violence despite peace process
Report16 Aug 2017
Photo Story
Cycles of abuse and gender based violence revealed in Papua New Guinea
1 Mar 2016
Photo Story
Journal article
Humanitarian work in prisons: the experience of Médecins Sans Frontières
22 Apr 2014
Journal article
Social violence and exclusion
Urban Survivors
Voices from the Field2 Nov 2011
Related topics
Crisis Settings
War and conflict
More than one third of our humanitarian and medical assistance is for people affected by armed conflict.
Crisis Settings
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move
There are many reasons for flight, including war, persecution, conflict, natural disaster, destitution and repression. With health and well-being jeopardised, the lives of the most vulnerable can be at risk.
Medical Activities
Sexual violence
Sexual violence affects millions of people, brutally shattering the lives of women, men and children. It is a medical emergency, but there is often a dire lack of healthcare services for victims.
