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.
Selv om Læger uden Grænsers missioner til Thailand med rette kunne anses for organisationens første missioner i krigstid fik MSF sin første mission til en regulær krigszone, inklusive udsættelse for fjendtlig beskydning, i 1976.