Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF), has been announced as the recipient of the 2023 Tipperary (Ireland) International Peace Award.
Making the announcement the Hon. Secretary of Tipperary Peace Convention, Martin Quinn, says that the awarding of the Peace Prize to Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a statement of support for an organisation that has brought medical care to the victims of earthquakes, nutritional crises, epidemics, conflicts and other disasters. “For over 50 years MSF has gone to wherever people are suffering, and has become renowned for their work in medical emergencies around the world. MSF grew out of the ideals of a group of French doctors who wanted to be on the ground helping those most in need anywhere in the world. Many decades later their work is of vital importance on a global level, whether responding to emergencies or providing medical support to vulnerable local communities. The 2023 Tipperary International Peace Award recognises the humanitarian work of MSF and the response of its teams to crises, both of war and of natural disasters. From its evolution of being an organisation with little or no resources, to becoming globally recognised for its humanitarian work, MSF is a worthy recipient of the Tipperary International Peace Award. The Award, while recognising the work of MSF for 53 years, also remembers those who were caught up in war torn situations and paid the ultimate price for their humanitarian efforts”.
Responding to news of the selection, Chris Lockyear, Secretary General, MSF, gave the following response; “We are sincerely grateful to be recognised by Tipperary Peace Convention for our medical work and provision of humanitarian assistance to people affected by war, displacement, exclusion from healthcare and epidemics. During a time of immense human suffering as a result of brutal conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine and Democratic Republic of Congo, and the many ‘silent’ humanitarian crises where our dedicated teams provide care, our work is often just a sticking plaster in response to an emergency. Real change for many of the communities that we assist, needs to come from states and world leaders who have the power to lessen human suffering through decisive political action in service of the world’s marginalised and vulnerable communities”.
