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 …
In many European countries and the United States, autumn/fall marks the end of summer holidays and signals the start of a new school year. While some children may not want their holidays to end, others eagerly await reuniting with their friends. But for millions of children in other parts of the world, school is a …
On October 7, two back-to-back 6.3-magnitude earthquakes hit western Afghanistan, affecting Herat province. Thousands of people have been reported killed, and many more injured and missing. The disaster has displaced families and left them living in congested shelters with limited access to water and other resources. As search and rescue operations continue, the situation is …
Promoting Mental Health in Lebanon Lebanon continues to struggle with an unprecedented economic crisis. As part of our efforts to promote health and well-being among refugees and vulnerable Lebanese, International Medical Corps offers community-based activities for youth and caregivers. Our mental health team also hosts special activities for children, nurturing social connection and well-being. Through …
Accessing clean water remains an everyday challenge in Afghanistan, especially in rural areas where most people depend on such distant water sources as springs and rivers for their daily needs. Despite the country’s abundant sources of fresh water, little attention has been paid to improving water quality and accessibility for the population—exposing them to health …
Every year, an estimated 300,000 women and 3 million newborns die from complications during pregnancy, childbirth or other neonatal causes. More than 90% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and most could be prevented with the simple, low-cost care of a skilled midwife—a profession that is tragically under-represented across the world. Midwives …
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 …
Every two minutes, a woman in some part of the world dies from pregnancy or childbirth. But it does not end there. When a mother dies, her newborn child is 10 times more likely to die. Almost 99% of maternal and child deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with Africa being the hardest-hit continent. …
When the Zeruk district of Paktika province was hit by an earthquake last year, International Medical Corps staff were among the first responders. And the work has continued, with health teams from eastern Afghanistan travelling rural roads in pick-up trucks to conduct assessments and share best practices with the staff members of a new International …
International Medical Corps has provided emergency healthcare services in Afghanistan and Pakistan for nearly 40 years. Our mobile teams, which include midwives, doctors, nurses and mental health counselors, travel to far-flung, underserved communities to provide primary healthcare, including maternal care and emergency deliveries. Childbirth does not wait for ideal circumstances—thankfully, our experienced teams are there …