Bernard Kouchner, born on November 1, 1939, is a French politician and doctor with a remarkable career spanning multiple decades. He is the co-founder of two prominent humanitarian organizations, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Médecins du Monde. Kouchner's political journey has seen him serve in various government positions, including as the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs from 2007 to 2010.
Kouchner's early life was marked by his Jewish father and Protestant mother, and his paternal grandparents, who were Russian-born Jews, escaped the pogroms and later perished in Auschwitz. He began his political career as a member of the French Communist Party, but was expelled in 1966 for attempting to overthrow the leadership. This led him to co-found MSF in 1971 and, later, Médecins du Monde in 1980.
Kouchner's humanitarian work took him to various conflict zones, including Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War, where he worked as a physician for the Red Cross. He also volunteered during the Siege of Naba'a refugee camp in Lebanon, taking risks that few others would, and working closely with Shia cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr.
Kouchner's government career began in 1988, when he became "Secrétaire d'état" for Humanitarian Action in the Michel Rocard cabinet. He later served as Minister of Health under Pierre Bérégovoy and continued his political career in the European Parliament from 1994 to 1997. During this time, he chaired the Committee on Development and Cooperation and served on the Subcommittee on Human Rights.
In addition to his parliamentary work, Kouchner co-founded the International Bureau for Children's Rights (IBCR) with Judge Andrée Ruffo in 1994. He also served as Minister of Health again from 1997 to 1999 under Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
Kouchner's influence extends beyond France, as he was considered the 15th most influential Jew in the world by The Jerusalem Post in 2010. Since 2015, he has worked as the workstream leader for the Agency for the Modernisation of Ukraine, contributing his expertise in healthcare.
