Doctors Without Borders, known in French as Médecins Sans Frontières, is an organization that dispatches doctors and healthcare professionals to some of the world's most impoverished and perilous regions. Their mission extends beyond providing medical care; they are also encouraged to speak out against the injustices they witness. In recognition of its swift response to both natural and humanitarian crises, the group was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. The Nobel Committee praised the organization for its prompt action in emergencies, highlighting that this quick intervention draws global attention to humanitarian disasters and contributes to shaping public opinion against abuses of power.By 2012, Doctors Without Borders had established offices around the globe and engaged more than 2,000 volunteers in their operations across approximately 80 countries. Their initiatives have included responding to the 2011 earthquake in Turkey, ongoing support after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, delivering healthcare in central India's tribal villages amid the conflict between Maoist insurgents and government forces, and being active in several nations following the Arab Spring. The organization has also been involved in conflict zones across Africa.Founded in 1971 by a group of French doctors, many of whom previously worked with the International Red Cross in Biafra between 1968 and 1970, Doctors Without Borders aimed to address two major shortcomings in international aid: the inadequacy of medical assistance and the excessive caution of aid organizations when faced with legal and administrative barriers to delivering effective humanitarian relief.
