Four Decades of Delivering Health and Hope

From conflict zones to remote villages, learn how our teams bring lifesaving care and hope to those in need.

International Medical Corps was founded 40 years ago in Afghanistan by Dr. Robert Simon and other volunteer doctors and nurses who had one lifesaving mission in mind: deliver vital care, training and supplies to people who need it most, no matter where they are located or how challenging it may be to reach them.

During a time when the conventional humanitarian model was to parachute in and disappear when the headlines faded, Dr. Simon realised that the only sustainable way forward was to train local health workers to care for their own.

In the four decades since our founding, our teams have leaped into action, responding to critical emergencies in more than 80 countries, often going where others wouldn’t, to provide care to families affected by violent conflict, natural disasters, hunger and disease. But depending on the crisis, our motto of “first there, no matter where” can look very different. Here are a few examples.

DRC

International Medical Corps has worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 1999. Our teams provide primary and secondary healthcare services, capacity-building activities, gender-based violence prevention and treatment, and nutritional support, among other programmes like disease prevention and control. We are responding to the rapid spread of mpox by providing training and personal protective equipment to healthcare providers.

Ukraine

With a history of working in Ukraine since 1999, International Medical Corps expanded our response efforts after Russia’s full-fledged invasion of the country in February 2022. Despite the danger, our teams are providing Ukrainians inside and outside the country with urgently needed medical services and training, mental health and psychosocial support, and water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Despite the ever-changing and dangerous circumstances, our doctors, nurses, nutritionists, logisticians and other essential team members are always ready to save lives and improve health.

Afghanistan

In 1984, International Medical Corps was founded in response to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Despite the difficulties and dangers involved in providing humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, our teams have continued to deliver healthcare, training and related services to communities suffering from the effects of natural disasters, conflict and disease.

International Medical Corps team members carry essential medicines and even school supplies as they travel across rocky mountain ranges to the remote village of Ziarat in eastern Afghanistan.
International Medical Corps team members carry essential medicines and even school supplies as they travel across rocky mountain ranges to the remote village of Ziarat in eastern Afghanistan.

Venezuela

International Medical Corps began working in Venezuela five years ago, venturing into remote and hard-to-reach areas to help indigenous communities by providing them with the training, tools and medical support needed to keep families healthy.

CAR

International Medical Corps has provided lifesaving services to conflict-affected communities, internally displaced people and refugees in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2007. Despite ongoing conflict, our teams provide communities with primary healthcare services, nutritional support and protection services.

Our team’s dedication never wavers when lives are at stake. We will continue to use every resource available to deliver lifesaving care, whether by car, motorcycle, boat, foot—or even horse-driven cart.

Mali

In 2013, our teams began delivering essential nutrition, maternal, newborn, child health and other medical services to communities in throughout Mali. Our staff continue to operate in six different regions, supporting health facilities as well as women’s and girls’ safe spaces, and operating several mobile health clinics that journey deep into the desert to provide healthcare services to nomadic communities.

International Medical Corps’ mission of helping the world’s most vulnerable requires immense coordination and support. Luckily, thanks to the unwavering generosity of our global donor community, we will continue to be first there—no matter where—to deliver compassion, health and hope where needed most, for decades to come.

Help us save lives.