Why We Stand with Refugees?

Every minute, people around the world are forced to leave their homes and everything they have. There are many reasons for flight, including war, persecution, conflict, natural disasters, destitution, and repression. 

At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders, we stand with displaced people, refugees, internally displaced persons, and migrants on the move. We don’t just offer medical care; we offer solidarity, and on World Refugee Day, we reaffirm our commitment to both compassion and justice. 

 

Fleeing is not a choice, It's survival 

No one becomes a refugee by choice. People flee their homes because staying would mean unbearable risk, violence, persecution, hunger, or death. Whether driven by armed conflict, oppressive regimes, environmental disasters, or economic desperation, the decision to flee is rarely a decision at all. It’s survival. 

 

Displacement is a Health Emergency 

When people are forced to flee, they often lose access to even the most basic necessities. In overcrowded camps, we see families struggling without clean water or adequate shelter. Others attempt dangerous crossings, by sea or through deserts, facing dehydration, injury, and exploitation. Many carry invisible wounds: trauma, grief, fear. 

We treat children who haven’t seen a doctor in years. We hear stories of people sleeping under bridges, waiting for someone, anyone, to ask if they’re okay. 

 

The journey is full of new dangers 

For many, escape is only the beginning of another nightmare. Migrants are often met not with compassion but with violence, detention, and closed borders. From detention centers to the deadly sea, the path to safety is filled with barriers. 

We treat people who have been trapped in slave-like conditions, pushed back at borders, or criminalized simply for trying to survive. In South Sudan, we distribute hygiene kits to those displaced by war. In France and Greece, we support young migrants and survivors of torture. On the Mediterranean Sea, our search and rescue ship Geo Barents has saved thousands of lives. 

 

What do we provide? 

We firmly place ourselves in solidarity with those who are on the move and those who assist them. 

We deliver emergency surgeries, trauma care, mental health support, vaccinations, maternal and child health services, and treatment for chronic diseases. We ensure access to clean water, food, shelter, and sanitation. And just as importantly, we fight for displaced people’s right to healthcare, regardless of their legal status.