MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF)
www.msf.org
Mission/Mandate:
“Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries.” (MSF Website, http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/aboutmsf, accessed on 4 March 2008)
MSF was founded in 1971 by a group of French doctors and journalists in the wake of the famine in Biafra, Nigeria. In 1999 Nobel Peace Prize for „pioneering humanitarian work on several continents“ was awarded to MSF (MSF-USA Website, http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/aboutus/timeline.cfm, accessed on 4 March 2008).
A private non-profit association, made up mainly of doctors and health sector workers, MSF is an international network with sections in 19 countries. “MSF teams are composed of international volunteers and local staff. Together, they work closely with national medical professionals and cooperate with other aid organizations. [...] In a wide range of circumstances, MSF volunteers have spoken out against violations of international humanitarian law they have witnessed.” (MSF-USA Website, http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/aboutus, accessed on 4 March 2008)
Target group:
Governments, UN, other international bodies, general public, media.
Objective:
“MSF is committed to two objectives: providing medical help wherever needed, regardless the race, religion, politics or sex and raising awareness of the plight of the people they help.” (MSF Website, http://www.msf.org, accessed on 4 March 2008)
Funding:
“MSF relies on the general public for nearly 89 percent of its operating funds. The remaining 11 percent of funds come from international agencies and governments.” (MSF-USA Website, http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/aboutus, accessed on 4 March 2008)
Donations, legacies and membership fees received from private individuals together with donations from private institutions (companies, foundations, etc.) represent the major part of the MSF income. Public institutional income comes from ECHO and EU institutions, UN institutions (WHO, WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, and others), EU governments (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Spain, Sweden and UK) and non-EU governments (Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, USA) (MSF International Movement Financial Report 2006, http://www.msf.org/source/financial/2007/MSF_Financial_Report_2006.pdf, accessed on 17 March 2008).
Scope of reporting:
Geographic scope: Most countries in Asia, Africa, Central and South America as well as some countries in Europe where MSF help is needed.
Thematic scope: How population is affected by armed conflicts, epidemic diseases, social violence and health care exclusion (minorities, ethnic groups, migrants, displaced people or refugees), natural disasters; information provided is focused on health problems and needs of the affected population; description of reasons for MSF intervention (conflicts, epidemics, disasters).
Reporting methodology:
MSF publications are based on the field experience of doctors, health sector workers and other volunteers working for MSF.In carrying out humanitarian assistance, MSF seeks also to raise awareness of crisis situations; MSF acts as a witness and speaks out about the plight of populations in danger via international and national conferences and publications, which include press releases, articles and reports.
MSF has sections in 19 countries, five of which are operational sections (Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland) directly controlling field projects (MSF-USA Website, http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/aboutus, accessed on 4 March 2008).
Publication cycle:
International Activity Report: Annually (in December of each year).
Top ten most under-reported humanitarian stories: Annually (in Decemeber of the current year or January of the following year).
Other reports: Published sporadically.
Press Releases, Articles: Ad hoc (when MSF feels the necessity to raise awareness of the humanitarian disaster or to insist on the political responsibility in crisis situations).
Languages:
English; the website also contains links to MSF national sites in their respective languages.
Navigation of website:
Home:Latest publications; through “quick reference” it is possible to directly access Latest articles, Press releases and Reports, or to search for information by selecting a country.
Content: All MSF publications.
Additional references:
