The Nobel Peace Prize 1999

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• Press Release

Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony

• Award Ceremony Speech

Médecins Sans Frontières

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Médecins Sans Frontières

Founded: 1971 in Paris, France

Prize motivation: "in recognition of the organization's pioneering humanitarian work on several continents"

Role: An independent, neutral and impartial emergency aid organization

Field: Humanitarian work

History

Médecins Sans Frontières is an independent, neutral and impartial emergency aid organization that was founded in France in 1971. It demands full and unimpeded freedom to carry out its work in accordance with medical ethics and the rights of human beings to humanitarian aid. The organization is a frequent critic of violence and violations of human rights in areas of conflict where it has stationed doctors and aid workers.

MSF has been involved in a large number of aid operations, both at scenes of natural disasters and in theatres of war. The organization's current budget amounts to NOK 2 billion. It annually sends out 2,500 doctors and nurses, who are well assisted by 15,000 local employees in 80 countries. MSF annually carries out 6 million consultations and 200,000 surgical interventions. Such figures make it one of the world's largest emergency aid organizations.

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