As Médecins sans frontières Luxembourg celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the organisation has had a new director general in the person of Paul Yon since 1st March. He succeeds Thomas Kauffmann, who left last November to take over at the NGO Care.

After studying English and Mandarin at university, Paul Yon began his career in humanitarian action with several non-governmental organisations, leading healthcare projects in India, Haiti, Iraq and the Caucasus. He joined MSF in 2003 and has worked in many contexts of humanitarian and health crises, including Myanmar, Syria, Iraq, North Korea, Chad, Burundi and Sudan.

“In 2017, he continued his commitment to the MSF movement as the association’s international coordinator reporting to the MSF International presidency. In 2021, he joined the teams in Abidjan to help create MSF’s first operational centre outside Europe. In recent years, he has also overseen projects in West and Central Africa and Pakistan,” adds the press release from MSF Luxembourg, chaired by Engy Ali.

MSF under his skin from the age of 15

“From the age of 15, I knew I wanted to work for Médecins Sans Frontières. Being part of an organisation that supports populations affected by conflicts, epidemics or natural disasters is a profound responsibility and motivation,” comments Paul Yon. Referring to his experience in the field, he adds: “After difficult months in a crisis situation, when a patient thanks the teams for having been able to give birth in dignified conditions, we know that our commitment has meaning.” He also points out that, in a world marked by major inequalities, “defending equitable access to healthcare remains a fundamental imperative”.

The press release explains that Paul Yon “discovered MSF Luxembourg in particular in 2025 on the occasion of the section’s general meeting. He then became a member of the association and applied for the position of director general.”