Who We Are

Doctors of the World was born at sea, after Vietnamese refugees risked everything to escape violence and persecution in the late 1970s. They climbed into overcrowded boats with no guarantee of safety, because survival demanded it. 

In response, a group of doctors led by Bernard Kouchner, joined by academics and journalists, set sail on a medical ship named Île de Lumière—the “Isle of Light.” Their mission was simple yet profound: to provide urgent medical care and to bear witness to the intolerable. 

From that first act of solidarity, our international humanitarian network grew.

Today, the need is even greater as record numbers of people make dangerous journeys across deserts, jungles, and seas, often facing detention and marginalization when they cross borders.  Our mission remains constant: to go where other organizations will not, to provide medical care rooted in dignity, and to confront the forces that push people into danger.

And when the headlines fade, we stay—working with local health systems and partners to strengthen care long after the immediate crisis.