The Trump administration’s attacks on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) since 20 January 2025 have revealed the anti-humanitarian ideology of the far right ­‒ that is, the view that foreign aid is a betrayal of national interests and values. In this article, Joël Glasman discusses two historical critiques of humanitarianism: the far-right (reactionary) critique, and the progressive critique shared by a number of traditions (Marxist, socialist, feminist, Pan-Africanist, and anti-colonialist). The author stresses the importance of clearly distinguishing between these two types of critique despite the current blurring of the line between politics and the media (welcomed by reactionary critique supporters), and shows that they are polar opposites when it comes to human dignity and the equality it implies.

Since the return to power of the Taliban in August 2021, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has introduced a whole series of measures drastically limiting women's rights, their freedom of movement, their access to work and education as well as their participation in political life. How has Médecins Sans Frontières reacted to these measures, which openly contradict its commitment to combating gender inequality in access to healthcare as well as in its own internal management?

For the moment, this podcast is only available in French.

Depuis avril 2023, le Soudan est entré dans une spirale de violence sans précédent. Les supplétifs sur lesquels le pouvoir central s'était appuyé pour réprimer les rebellions de l'ouest et du sud du pays se sont rebellés contre leurs commanditaire, l'armée.

Au micro de Thomas Rozec, rédacteur en chef de l’émission Programme B de Binge Audio, Rony Brauman revient sur l’année 2003 au Darfour et les événements politiques, historiques et humanitaires qui s’en sont suivis.

Au micro de Thomas Rozec, rédacteur en chef de l’émission Programme B de Binge Audio, Rony Brauman revient sur l’année 1994 au Rwanda.

Indépendance, neutralité, impartialité. Tels sont les principes censés guider l'action de Médecins Sans Frontières et des organisations humanitaires en général. C'est cette évidence que remet en cause Rony Brauman dans cet épisode enregistré à l’occasion d’une formation destinée aux cadres opérationnels de l'organisation en mai 2023. 

On Thursday 19 September 2024, the Crash team was delighted to welcome Priscille Sauvegrain for a conference on medical practices in maternal health in France and the role played by racial categories. This meeting, prepared with Caroline Izambert, was moderated by Judith Soussan. 

Educateur spécialisé, juriste et militant des droits de l'homme, Dicko a rejoint Médecins Sans Frontières en 2020 comme "chargé de veille contextuelle". Sa mission : aider les équipes MSF à se déployer au Niger, au Burkina Faso, au Mali et au Nigéria, pays en proie à des conflits violents opposant leurs gouvernements à des mouvements armés se réclamant d'al-Qaida ou de l'Etat islamique.

The “MSF and Darfur 2003-2009” case study describes the constraints, questions and dilemmas faced by MSF with regards to speaking out about extreme violence, massive displacements and terrible survival conditions endured by the population in the Darfur region, Sudan, between 2003 and 2009. 

Following a series of coups d'état in recent years in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, the Sahel region is undergoing a major redefinition. In a context of high insecurity, what are the possibilities for accessing populations? What are the conditions under which our teams are operating, and can we do more? This interview with Hamadoun Dicko, who is in charge of access issues in the Sahel for MSF, was originally published association's website of MSF-France.