International staff: 6 National staff: 22 MSF first worked in Mexico in 1994 and has had a continuous presence since 1997

As a result of the post-conflict standoff between the Zapatista movement and the Mexican government, Zapatista communities actively exclude themselves from government services. Since March 2000, MSF has provided humanitarian assistance to marginalized people in self-declared Zapatista autonomous communities in the rural areas of the state of Chiapas. Activities include consultations, basic health care (including mother-and-child health care) and vaccinations, through mobile medical clinics which visit communities 20 days out of every month. In September 2002, MSF suspended activities in the area of San Manuel, after the local Zapatista authorities tried to impose fees on MSF patients who were not part of the Zapatista movement.

The teams resumed work there in January 2003 after this decision was reversed. MSF also responds to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Isidore, which hit the Yucatan Peninsula in September 2002. MSF provided medical assistance to the most vulnerable families in two areas and distributed emergency kits, medicines and cooking utensils.