Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent medical aid organization. Médecins Sans Frontières translates as "Doctors without Borders". The non-governmental organization (NGO) provides medical aid to people affected by conflicts, disasters, epidemics or exclusion from healthcare. The rapid and effective response to humanitarian emergencies is at the heart of its work. MSF was founded in Paris in 1971 by a group of journalists and doctors. In 1999, Médecins Sans Frontières was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.