Responding when disaster strikes

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery since 2014. This support allows MSF to quickly respond to emergencies and assist people in greatest need worldwide.

A total of £3,625,000 has been raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery for MSF's emergency life-saving work.

MSF supports around 10 million people each year, extending to the far corners of the world, operating across more than 70 countries. On any given day MSF treats hundreds of thousands of patients.

In these very challenging times, it is more necessary than ever

Today, as the world faces the Covid-19 pandemic, this support from players is more vital than ever.

For MSF, keeping projects running is fundamental. Support form players is enabling MSF to continue treating many thousands of people in conflict zones, refugee camps and in areas with less developed health systems. This means MSF can continue providing critical, life-saving medical care in extremely vulnerable communities, whilst ensuring they are prepared and ready to respond to Covid-19.

Dr Christos Christou, international president of MSF said: "Vulnerable groups all over the world need us now more than ever. In this battle, in this pandemic, in these very challenging times, it's more necessary than ever to be here for them."

MSF is deeply concerned about how Covid-19 might affect people living in precarious environments, such as the homeless, those living in refugee camps in Greece and Bangladesh, and conflict-affected groups in Yemen and Syria. A coronavirus outbreak in any of these places, as in many other countries around the world, would be devastating.

Responding to disease outbreaks and emergencies is in MSF’s DNA.

Thanks to their long experience of dealing with epidemics and mass influxes of patients, MSF has developed specific skills and techniques to provide medical assistance in moments of crisis and social disruption, to intervene when national systems are overrun. MSF has started Covid-19 operations in many places, including Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Brazil. They are sharing technical know-how of epidemic control with national health services and providing medical support to doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, MSF teams are working with local health authorities to ready themselves for the impact of COVID-19. In places where there is a higher chance of cases, preparedness means ensuring adequate infection control measures are in place. This includes setting up coronavirus screening at triage points, establishing isolation areas and broadening health education activities.

Find out more about about MSF's response to Covid-19.