Humanitarian action is a gesture of solidarity of civil society to civil society, from person to person, whose sole purpose is to preserve life and alleviate the suffering of other human beings.

Unlike other areas of international solidarity, such aid does not aspire to transform a society, but to enable it to overcome a critical period: its goal is people, not states. For this reason our interventions are limited in time.

MSF humanitarian commitment is selfless, non-profit and respects the following principles, which are translated on the ground in basic conditions for the provision of aid:

Humanity. Ensure humane and dignified treatment who receive assistance in all circumstances and for humanitarian reasons only.
Impartiality. Assist the needy with a universal spirit without any discrimination based on race, religion or political ideology.
Independence. Aid must be free of pressures and political, economic, military or religious interests.
Neutrality. Aid operations should not in themselves constitute a hostile act or seek favor any party.
free and independent access to populations in crisis situations.
impartial assessment of the needs of these populations.
Universality and proportionality of the aid to identified needs.
Free choice of actions and means to be used for assistance.
Responsibility, supervision and control of assistance.