FAQs

MSF is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. MSF provides aid in nearly 80 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

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 and dispenses clean drinking water, and provides shelter materials like blankets and plastic sheeting

No. MSF is an independent organisation which operates free of any political, military, or religious agendas. MSF's activities are not connected to any of the UN agencies. However, MSF may advocate with the United Nations on common medical and humanitarian concerns.

MSF works mainly in countries where it has found services inadequate to meet a population's medical needs. MSF is present in nearly 80 countries worldwide in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

Yes. MSF has field teams and undertakes medical work in countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. In addition, MSF has  regional offices in the UAE and Lebanon. 

Yes. All MSF services are free. MSF rejects the idea that poor countries deserve third-rate medical care and strives to provide high-quality care to patients and seeks for highly professional staff (medical and non-medical). For example, in the MSF mission treating Iraqi war wounded, MSF covers all expenses related to the treatment including travelling costs, accommodation, etc.

MSF does not represent an alternative for the health facilities in the countries where it intervenes. MSF tries to fill the gap of medical and humanitarian needs. When such needs are fulfilled MSF hands over to local health institutions and gives support to other populations in need.

No. MSF observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and claims full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions. MSF works for providing health and humanitarian assistance for distressed populations regardless of their religious, ethnic and political connections and without discrimination.

MSF is a medical organization so its activities are medical in the first place. 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 and dispenses clean drinking water, and provides shelter materials like blankets and plastic sheeting.

MSF is ready to intervene in any country regardless of political, religious or ethnic considerations. The decision to intervene in any given country is based on assessment of the medical and humanitarian needs in that country.

At all times, MSF directs at least 80 per cent of its revenue to fund operational activities. A minimum of 80 cents from every dollar is spent supporting field operations, which provide medical assistance to populations in distress around the world.

We don’t accept in-kind gifts such as medical equipment, drugs, food or other materials for our operations. Here’s why: a huge part of what makes MSF so effective at emergency medical response is our ability to operate rapidly. After decades of experience, we’ve developed specialized, pre-packaged kits that are ready to go at a moment’s notice. These tried-and-tested materials can get to our teams much more efficiently than if we had to manage screening, sorting, and packing different types of supplies. Some more viable options could be to check with your local community centres, shelters, hospices, hospitals or seniors’ homes, as they can often make use of extra supplies.

In cases of emergencies – such as earthquakes, epidemics or conflicts – MSF can respond immediately. This is because we encourage donors to give unrestricted funds, which means we can spend them where the need is greatest. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, MSF has a significant emergency reserve fund. This means there is no delay in mobilizing our response, no delay for government funds to be released and no lag as donation appeals are launched; we can act immediately and then replenish this fund with new donations. Once the money reaches the medical programmes it is carefully managed by the project team. It is subject to a rigorous accounting system, with every penny logged and all the information flowing back to the headquarters and our donors – transparency and accountability are essential.

Corporate matching gift programmes are charitable giving programmes created by corporations in which the company matches donations made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations. It’s a way for companies to support the investment of the employees in MSF. The company will give the same amount as the employee (or more).The employee doubles (or more) his donation!