In times of crisis, violence against women and girls can escalate. International Medical Corps is at the forefront of preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) in countries around the world. Our teams offer community-based services not only to prevent violence but also to reduce stigma for survivors and promote women’s empowerment and economic independence. …
In Herat province, Afghanistan, communities were already preparing for a harsh winter when back-to-back earthquakes devastated the area. The quakes —each around 6.3 magnitude— hit on October 7, 10 and 15, and were each followed by several aftershocks. The series of quakes levelled villages, buried families and left entire communities homeless. According to OCHA, nearly …
When catastrophic natural disasters struck Morocco and Libya, International Medical Corps responded immediately. As usual, we are working with local partners and public authorities to provide critical care and supplies in the aftermath of these tragedies—and will expand the scope of our responses as needs dictate. Massive Earthquake in Morocco On September 8, a 6.8-magnitude …
At International Medical Corps, we’ve earned a reputation for being “first there, no matter where.” No matter how complex the challenges, no matter how remote the location, we’re committed to bringing lifesaving medical care and supplies to those who need it most. This story highlights the embodiment of this spirit: our team in Iraq, who …
For several months, the province of North Kivu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has faced an increase in fighting, resulting in more than 90,000 displaced people crossing into South Kivu province. Today, more than 1 million people are living in camps around the city of Goma in North …
Editor’s Note: International Medical Corps’ Yemen Blog presents a rare view of life in Yemen, chronicled by our first responders as they battle one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters—one fueled by poverty, hunger, disease and a seemingly endless war, now in its ninth year. The entry below is the second written by Dr. Esmail …
As a Global Security Manager with a deep background in the humanitarian sector, Aden Dahir Noor understands all too well the needs of the refugees International Medical Corps works with. After all, he’s a refugee himself. Aden was born in Somalia, but his family fled to a refugee camp in Kenya when civil war broke …
Imagine that fighting has broken out between rival groups in your town, and it’s so dangerous that you can risk your life just by going to the grocery store or to your job. How would you feel to come home from work and find your home damaged and your neighbours killed by bombs dropped on …
On April 15, clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces erupted in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Due to the conflict, large segments of the population have been completely cut off from essential services, hundreds have been killed nationwide and thousands have been injured. Sudan has long been plagued by tribal …
Prioritising Staff Well-Being Providing humanitarian assistance in disaster and crisis situations can take a toll on the physical and mental health of frontline first responders. Because many of our staff are local to the communities they serve, they often can be directly affected by a crisis at the same time they’re working to provide lifesaving …