Although its missions to Thailand to help victims of war in Southeast Asia could arguably be seen as its first war-time mission, MSF saw its first mission to a true war zone, including exposure to hostile fire, in 1976.
Meskipun misinya di Thailand untk menolong para korban perang di Asia Tenggara jelas dapat dipandang sebagai misinya yang pertama pada masa perang, MSF menganggap misi pertamanya di daerah perang yang sesungguhnya, termasuk keterpaparan terhadap bahaya tembak-menembak, pada 1976.