Over the past 40 years, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has developed a reputation as an emergency medical humanitarian organization willing to go almost anywhere to deliver care to people in need.
Yet when questioned about MSF, people in countries where it works had different perceptions. One thought MSF was from Saudi Arabia and financed by Muslim charities. Another thought it was a China-based corporation. And yet another believed MSF requires everyone who enters their medical facilities to be armed (quite the opposite, in fact).
These are just some of the surprising revelations found in In the Eyes of Others: How People in Crises Perceive Humanitarian Aid. The book is a result of MSF’s attempt to better understand how its work and principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence are perceived by those who receive its emergency medical care.
A variety of scholars, researchers, students and other humanitarians also contribute essays expanding on issues of perception and exploring the many facets of humanitarian action today.
Order the book
Articles published on the book
“MSF dans le regard des autres”, Sabrina Ferstler, Revue Humanitaire, no. 31, avril 2012
“MSF se découvre dans l’oeil des autres”, Juliette Galeazzi, Sciences Humaines, no. 237, mai 2012
“Médecins Sans Frontières se confronte au regard des populations du Sud”, Aline Andrey, L’Événement syndical, no. 8/9, 22 février 2012
Radio program Babylone
27 February 2012: How is humanitarian action perceived? A study by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
A one-hour program by Nicole Duparc, with:
- Caroline Abu-Sada (Political scientist, Coordinator of the research unit of MSF Switzerland)
- Doris Schopper (Director of the Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH))
- Eros Bosisio (ICRC)
- Sarah-Eve Hammond (Chargée de communication, MSF)
Les Entretiens du Comptoir des Presses
1 March 2012: Paris. The action of MSF in the eyes of others
During the “Entretiens du Comptoir des Presses” in Paris, presentation and discussion on the book Dans l’œil des Autres, with Caroline Abu-Sada and Rony Brauman
The “Entretiens du Comptoir des Presses” welcomed, for a debate on two books on the practices of contemporary humanitarian action on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Médecins Sans Frontières,
- Caroline Abu-Sada (Coordinator of the research unit of MSF Switzerland) and
- Rony Brauman (Former president of MSF France and Research director at the CRASH)
On the occasion of the release of the books :
- Dans l’œil des autres : Perception de l’action humanitaire et de MSF, edited by Caroline Abu-Sada, Antipodes Editions, 2012
- Agir à tout prix : Négociations humanitaires : l’expérience de Médecins Sans Frontières, edited by Claire Magone, Fabrice Weissman, Michaël Neuman, La Découverte, 2011
International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH)
10 March 2012: Geneva. MSF in the eyes of others
From March 2 to 11, the FIFDH held its tenth edition on the topic of success. MSF is one of the privileged partners of this tenth edition. The festival, which will take place at the same time as the United Nations Human Rights Council, is an independent forum during which questions on rights can be freely discussed. The objective is to inform, debate and denounce violations of human dignity by inviting the public to take part in discussions on a film. Join MSF for films and debates on the right to health, and the perception of humanitarian action. MSF will present the films Living in Emergency and 40 ans de prise de parole, as well as the book Dans l’Oeil des autres. The projections will be followed by a discussion with Caroline Abu-Sada and Laurent Sauveur.
English version
There is an English version of this book: In the Eyes of Others: How People in Crises Perceive Humanitarian Aid.
Spanish version
There is a Spanish version of this book: La mirada de los otros : Cómo las poblaciones en crisis perciben la ayuda humanitaria.
