ISSN 2346-7479; Volume 3, Issue 6, pp. 87-94; July, 2014 Online Journal of African Affairs ©2014 Online Research Journals Research Article Available Online at http://www.onlineresearchjournals.org/JAA A Paradigm of Medical Humanitarianism: The Case of Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) in Africa Jau-Yon Chen, Ph.D. Howard University, Department of African Studies, Washington D.C. USA. E-mail: jauyon@gmail.com. Received 16 May, 2014 Accepted 8 July, 2014 Humanitarian action encompasses more, than merely providing medical, economic or material support during crises. Above all, it is also about empowering those in need. This is the story of médecins sans frontières, also known as doctors without borders in English. By taking an in-depth look at MSF background, charter, along with its field operations in several African nations such as: Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Sudan, and South Sudan; this paper demonstrates that although organizations like doctors without borders cannot resolve a nation’s or even an entire continent’s inveterate humanitarian crises, it has played an important role in health care capacity building throughout Africa. This paper uses the origin of doctors without borders, its field operations in Africa, criticisms and shortcomings of this organization, problems of dependency, and principles of medical humanitarianism to illustrate the impact and importance of non-governmental organizations. Finally, the paper concludes with salient issues that this organization has raised for the entire African continent. Key words: Doctors without borders, medical humanitarianism, emergency assistance, NGOs, Africa. INTRODUCTION Over the past four decades, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have gained prominence in international affairs. Besides serving as a forum for ordinary individuals to voice their concerns on particular issues, they have also provided opportunities for those who want to make a difference in their communities. Most importantly, in situations of severe humanitarian crises, the very nature of NGOs has allowed them to bypass the constraints of state sovereignty and complex regulations of international bureaucracies to provide immediate assistance to those affected by crises. At times, they have even played vital roles in raising international awareness on those who are neglected by the global community due to their race, socio-economic status or geographical location. This is the case of médecins sans frontières (MSF), also known as doctors without borders (DWB). Since its founding back in 1971, MSF have played key roles in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to those who have been affected by conflicts or by natural disasters around the world, particularly in Africa. Even though MSF has not solved the inveterate causes underlying civil wars as well as both natural and human-induced disasters in Africa, they have shouldered the basic responsibilities of several African governments by delivering essential health and public services to the continent‟s most marginalized and forgotten populations. Furthermore, through their humanitarian actions, MSF has also reminded each and every one of us that concerned individuals can make a difference in other people‟s lives and even change the world to some extent. This paper is divided into seven sections. The first briefly explains the significance of the research paper while the second provides an overview of MSF‟s background and its principles. The third is about its field operations on the African continent. Since no one individual or entity is perfect, the fourth will look at some of the criticisms MSF is facing. The fifth will examine the ways in which MSF‟s fi eld operations in Africa have perpetuated a cycle of dependency on foreign humanitarian organizations. The sixth takes an in-depth look at the principles beyond this organization‟s humanitarian operations, and what it takes to be a MSF volunteer. Finally, the concluding section discusses the significant issues that MSF‟s field missions have