Doctors Who Put Their Lives on the Line to Meet Urgent Needs: Médecins Sans Frontières

At work in Jabalia, Gaza 

Nearly 50 years ago I met a doctor who would take a month off every year to address medical needs in Haiti. He told me there were many others who did similar work. Several years later we attended a church in which a doctor there told us of a clinic in Madagascar that he devoted a month out of every year to serving the people there. Dr. Roach said the entire clinic had  a rotating staff composed of volunteer doctors and nurses who flew in and took care of patients with every conceivable kind of medical need. 

These memories came to mind in January after a close friend died and his obituary suggested people give to Doctors Without Border in lieu of gifts to the family.

If you follow the news (and not everybody does) Doctors Without Borders (also known as Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) has been mentioned a lot in the media these past few years for their heartbreaking sacrificial service in Gaza. This is a very different environment from the above-mentioned Madagascar clinic where doctors don't lose sleep worrying about missile attacks and surgeries are conducted with appropriate anasthesia.

Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, more than 1,700 healthcare workers* (including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical personnel) have been killed in Gaza, according to figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH), cited by multiple sources including UN agencies, NGOs, and media reports as of early 2026. You may read some quibbling amongst these details, but there's no question that a lot of health care professionals and volunteers have lost their lives trying to meet the needs of the wounded and dying. At least 15 staff members from Doctors Without Borders have been killed.

Attacks on healthcare have been extensive: WHO documented hundreds (e.g., 697–735 verified attacks by mid-2025), affecting nearly all facilities, with many raided, besieged, or hit by strikes. In 2023 there were 35 or 36 hospitals in Gaza. Today 94% of these hospitals have been damaged or destroyed? If 1700 medical staff have been killed one can only imagine what happened to the Palestinians who were receiving care in these hospitals. 

MSF is widely recognized for providing emergency medical aid in conflict zones, disaster areas, and underserved regions worldwide. Founded in 1971, the organization operates independently and has earned strong endorsements from major charity evaluators for its efficiency and transparency.

I don't know about you, but when I consider giving to a charity, the first question is usually this: Will my money actually help people? In the case of Doctors Without Borders (often referred to as MSF USA), the answer is reassuring. Independent charity watchdogs consistently rank the organization among the most trustworthy and effective humanitarian groups. Charity Navigator gives it a Four-Star rating—its highest level—with particularly strong marks for financial accountability and transparency. CharityWatch also rates it an “A,” placing it among the most efficient charities when it comes to using donations for real work in the field rather than overhead.

Just as important, the majority of donated funds go directly toward helping people in crisis. Recent financial reports show that roughly 85 to 87 cents of every dollar spent goes to medical programs—things like emergency surgery, vaccines, treatment for malnutrition, and frontline care in war zones and disaster areas. Only one percent is used for administration. 

Doctors Without Borders also publishes detailed annual financial reports and audited statements so donors can see exactly how money is used. For donors who want their contributions to translate quickly and directly into lifesaving care, Doctors Without Borders remains one of the most respected and effective options available.

While the organization, like any large international effort, has faced occasional criticism or internal debate, there have been no credible scandals involving misuse of funds or systemic fraud. 

Related Link

Remembering Our Colleagues Killed In Gaza

https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/remembering-our-colleagues-killed-gaza

* The numbers are disputed by some who suggest that only 1500 have been killed.