Alert Summer 2026: How MSF works

Alert is a biannual magazine published by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF USA) that features ground reporting from our work around the world. Below are excerpts from the Summer 2026 issue (Vol. 27, No. 1), How MSF Works.

A letter from Dr. Aqsa Durrani

Dear colleagues and supporters,

On January 1, 2026, I began my term as president of the Board of Directors at Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States (MSF USA). I come to this role as a physician and epidemiologist with nearly two decades of experience working in various humanitarian emergencies, caring for patients and working with communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, and other crises. But no amount of experience could have fully prepared me, or any of us, for the complexity of the challenges we face today.

From the rapid escalation of emergencies in places like Haiti and Sudan, to the sudden withdrawal of humanitarian support from the US and other governments, to widening regional conflicts, we can see the structures, systems, and norms that once upheld our work shifting before our eyes.

This moment serves as a reminder. When the systems falter, we ground our hope in people. In times of uncertainty, the principles of medical ethics, independence, solidarity, and the commitment to bear witness are all carried forward by people who choose time and time again to show up for others. It is through them that we can stay focused on what matters most: delivering high-quality medical care to our patients and their communities, speaking out about the root causes that drive suffering, and standing up for dignity and humanity, no matter what.

This issue of Alert magazine offers a glimpse into that work and the people who make it possible — and debuts a dynamic new design.

In these pages, you will hear directly from my colleagues. You will meet teams that are delivering lifesaving vaccines to remote communities in extremely under-resourced settings. You’ll learn about clinicians who are using portable ultrasound technology to provide prenatal care to pregnant women where it is otherwise inaccessible. And you will hear from an MSF psychologist reflecting on how we support our own staff, who sometimes experience trauma as part of their work.

We also explore how MSF operates in and around conflict, and our colleagues share their perspectives on the experience of providing health care amid violence. Conflict touches every aspect of people’s lives, causing injury and loss, forcibly displacing families, disrupting health care services, and fueling the spread of disease.

In the past several years, as violence has escalated in Ukraine, Sudan, and now in Iran, Lebanon, and across the Middle East, MSF teams have witnessed a shrinking space for humanitarian action and increasing attacks on civilians, aid workers, and health facilities — all of which are protected under international law. In Gaza, our teams have witnessed and been directly impacted by repeated attacks amid genocidal violence, a profound stain on our shared humanity.

We bear witness to these realities because they are so often overlooked. When the headlines are dominated by geopolitical maneuvering, rising oil prices, or supply chain disruptions, MSF speaks out about the human impacts — the lives disrupted, the care denied, and the dangerous erosion of the protections that are meant to safeguard our patients and their communities.

MSF exists because of this collective commitment and the community of people throughout this movement who insist on a better world. We are fueled by the courage of our colleagues, the honor and privilege of caring for patients and partnering with communities, and the solidarity within our community of colleagues and supporters.

Thank you for placing your trust in us — we do not take it for granted.

Sincerely,

Dr. Aqsa Durrani
President, MSF USA Board of Directors