Delivering Critical Support After Earthquake Displaces Thousands in Southern Philippines

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Mindanao region in the southern Philippines on June 8, damaging infrastructure, disrupting essential services and forcing thousands of families from their homes. The quake was immediately followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, triggering tsunami warnings that prompted coastal evacuations across nine provinces.

International Medical Corps’ in-country staff responded within 24 hours, deploying an emergency response team to Sarangani province—one of the hardest-hit areas—to support critical health facilities and affected communities. In addition to delivering essential medicines, medical supplies, fuel and generator sets to ensure that health facilities can continue operating, our team also is providing food packs and hygiene kits to communities in need.

“Our priority is to ensure that communities affected by the earthquake continue to have access to lifesaving health services,” says Erwin Nacuray, Country Director for International Medical Corps in the Philippines. “We are working closely with local authorities and local partners to provide critical support to those most affected by the devastating earthquake.”

Below are some photos from our response across Glan and Maasim, two municipalities in Sarangani province. We also have delivered medical supplies to a health facility on Balut Island.

Program Manager Humabon Marollano (left) carries fuel to a boat International Medical Corps’ team took to deliver supplies to Glan municipality.

Logistics Officer James Esbie Imperial (left) and local authorities review medicines before delivering them to Sarangani Provincial Hospital.

In Glan municipality, with electricity completely cut off by the earthquake, Sarangani Provincial Hospital has been relying on a generator for power. International Medical Corps donated an additional generator, as well as fuel, to help keep the hospital operational until electricity is restored.

Erwin Nacuray (left, tan vest) and Humabon Marollano (right, tan vest) meet with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Arvin Alejandro (second from the left) and health workers at Sarangani Provincial Hospital.

International Medical Corps team members and hospital staff test the generator we provided to Sarangani Provincial Hospital.

In Glan, people displaced by the earthquake are living in red tents near a local health facility where International Medical Corps delivered medical supplies.

Humabon Marollano (sixth from left, tan vest) and Country Director Erwin Nacuray (right, tan vest) deliver medicines, medical supplies, a generator set and fuel to Sarangani Provincial Hospital.

Erwin Nacuray (second from right) meets with Governor Rogelio Pacquiao (second from left) of Sarangani province to coordinate our response with local authorities.

International Medical Corps distributed 200 food packs in Glan, benefiting approximately 820 people and providing enough food per family for approximately eight to 10 days.

Community members in Glan register to receive food packs from International Medical Corps.

Community members in Glan load a cart with food packs for their families.

We also provided hygiene kits to 200 households in Maasim that experienced compound disasters, as their area was hit by floods five days after the earthquake. These kits—which include essential items such as handwashing soap, laundry detergent, water containers and feminine hygiene products—will meet each family’s needs for approximately one month.

A woman carries food and hygiene kits she received from International Medical Corps in Maasim municipality.

Volunteers help unload hygiene kits delivered by International Medical Corps in Maasim.

James Esbie Imperial (top row, second from left) and Erwin Nacuray (top row, second from right) stand with local health workers from Maasim Rural Health Unit with the hygiene kits that International Medical Corps delivered there.

A woman and her child hold the certificate they received from International Medical Corps after receiving hygiene kits in Maasim.

International Medical Corps has been active in the Philippines since 2013. Since then, we have responded to several major disasters that have hit the country, including Cyclone Wipha and Typhoon Gaemi. Learn more about our work in the Philippines.