Where We Work

Afghanistan

Earthquakes in Afghanistan

Responding to the devastation

UNCERTAINTY IN AFGHANISTAN

Decades of instability, economic decline and recurring natural disasters, including the recent earthquakes, have created an overwhelming humanitarian crisis. You can help.

International Medical Corps was established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses to address the critical need for medical care in war-torn Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. Over the decades, in the face of continued conflict, we have remained, delivering medical care, healthcare-related services and training, as Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies.

Two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population—a record 28.3 million people—will likely be in need of humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023 as the country enters its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions and the second year of crippling economic decline.

In addition, economic decline and political unrest, recurring natural hazards—such as avalanches, earthquakes, flooding and landslides—exacerbate the situation. The combination of the volatile security situation and frequent natural disasters make it difficult to reach populations in need.

In the midst of these problems, health facilities remain a common target of violence, resulting in the suspension of services in a number of locations. Yet our staff—the vast majority of whom are hired locally—continue working throughout the country to improve the quality of life and health status of those we serve by providing medical services and training.

Population

37.4 

million

Life Expectancy

52/55 

male/female

Infant mortality rate

106.75 deaths 

per 1,000 live births

The Challenges

Ongoing Conflict & Natural Disasters

Violence has continued to increase across Afghanistan

Weak Health Systems

There are only about two physicians per 10,000 people, and about five nurses and midwives per 10,000 people

Malnutrition

13.1 million Afghans are in need

Poor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Progress has been made in recent years to provide rural populations with greater access to improved drinking water sources, but much still needs to be done

Our Response

Emergency & Primary Healthcare

International Medical Corps provides lifesaving healthcare services in Balkh, Faryab, Kabul, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Paktika and Sar-e-Pul provinces. In 2022, we provided 596,458 health consultations, including emergency trauma-care services, to people affected by conflict. In addition, we offered reproductive health services—including antenatal care, delivery assistance, postnatal care and family planning—to 43,337 women. In 2022, International Medical Corps also provided lifesaving curative and preventive nutrition services to 94,882 children under 5 and to 13,022 pregnant and lactating women. International Medical Corps supports one hospital in Balkh province, providing lifesaving secondary-level health services, medicines and medical supplies.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

International Medical Corps provides MHPSS services to help individuals and communities rebuild social structures after an emergency or critical event. We train counselors to identify mental health needs and provide support as part of an integrated mobile team. Counselors offer both group and individual counseling to those exposed to distressing life experiences, and refer people with severe mental health conditions to appropriate health facilities. We also train medical doctors in the mental health gap action program (mhGAP) to expand care for mental, neurological and substance-use disorders in non-specialized settings.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programs

Barely a quarter of Afghanistan’s population is estimated to have access to sanitation facilities—a reality that creates fertile ground for outbreaks of disease. International Medical Corps provides WASH services to internally displaced persons, returnees, host communities and refugees in Balkh, Faryab, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Paktika and Sare-Pul provinces. In 2022, International Medical Corps constructed 15 community-based solar-powered water supply systems, and rehabilitated five water supply systems and 106 community-based boreholes and wells, delivering clean water to 68,990 people. We also provided 8,075 people with access to hygienic latrines by rehabilitating or constructing 25 flush toilets near schools, health facilities and communities. Our teams distributed 11,245 hygiene kits and 12,560 water kits to 166,635 families, provided hygiene promotion sessions to 172,608 people and distributed 71,988 soap bars and 2,100 Aqua tablets to families in need. International Medical Corps also provided 114,335 people who crossed the Torkham border with access to hygienic toilets and handwashing facilities. In 2022, we responded to a deadly earthquake in Paktika province, providing lifesaving emergency medical services through our first-aid trauma post and WASH activities. We reached 2,346 people with emergency medical services, 16,840 people with emergency WASH services, and more than 5,000 people with emergency shelter, NFIs and winterization kits.

Protection Programs

International Medical Corps works to discourage attitudes and behavior that contribute to protection incidents in Afghanistan. We also use targeted social- and behavior-change activities, such as community dialogues and awareness sessions about protection and other issues to achieve this goal and reduce the stigma of survivors. We provide protection services, including psychosocial support (PSS) and counseling services, in Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Dikundi, Faryab, Jawzjan, Kabul, Kunduz and Samangan provinces. We ensure that medical and psychosocial support services are available to survivors and that they receive life-skills and basic vocational training to increase their resilience. In 2022, we provided protection services, including psychosocial support, to 261,384 people.

Our Impact

596,458
outpatient consultations via mobile teams and static health facilities in 2022
175,000
children under 5 received lifesaving healthcare services

Resources

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Situation Reports

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Help Save Lives in Afghanistan