In May 1967, the province of Biafra, in southern Nigeria, seceded. This miniscule territory was surrounded by the Nigerian army and the Biafran people were decimated by famine with two million people dying of hunger. A revolting situation for doctors and journalists present on site who were asked to look away. They wondered: how is it possible to remain silent in front of these atrocities ?
These doctors and journalists alerted the press to reveal the horror to the public. It is based on this indignation that MSF was created in 1971.
Our mission has not changed
Today we are an international organization, with hundreds of projects 88 countries and our initial mission has not changed. Our teams make every effort to take care of the victims of wars, disasters and epidemics. We are outraged when people can not receive the medical care they need, and we still believe that we can raise public indignation.
To achieve our mission, we are careful to remain completely independent from any political rule, economic, military or religious commitment. Our funding is at 95% made of individual donations. Thanks to this, we can decide what help we want to provide. We are neutral and we have only one interest in mind: the one of our patients.
An international movement
Since 1971 and the creation of the association, MSF has spread the will of an independent humanitarian action, first in Europe and then to Australia, Japan and the United States.
Today, the international MSF movement has 23 sections, 9 branch offices, 9 satellite organisations and MSF International united around one and the same charter. All are under the responsibility of a Board of Directors elected by its members at an Annual General meeting.
About MSF Luxembourg
The Luxembourg section of MSF was created in 1986. Today, 35 employees work within MSF Luxemburg to raise the awareness from the Luxemburgish population on humanitarian issues, collect the necessary funds to finance interventions, oversee MSF volunteers who go on the field and to carry out dozens of operational researches in direct link with the operations to keep improving them. It also gathers 119 associate members, 80 volunteers, 9 members of the Board and more than 27,000 active donors who allow MSF to continue its mission.
Since 2009, MSF Luxembourg has been using his expertise for the development of medical research in the field through operational research unit skills in Luxembourg, called LuxOR (Luxembourg Operational Research).
Operational Research, an evidence for MSF
If MSF provides medical assistance to people living in difficult and resource-constrained environments, operational research is designed to assess and improve practices in health programs, to help health workers to find suitable practical solutions to specific situations of their patients in crisis contexts.
Provide access to quality health care to vulnerable populations is in the DNA of MSF, the Operational Research provides exceptional added value in achieving these challenges.
MSF Foundation for Humanitarian Research
The Foundation for Humanitarian Research aims to contribute to better humanitarian practices by generating and sharing ideas and innovative reflections based on operational research.