Providing Clean Water to War-Affected Ukrainians
In Ukraine, years of conflict have damaged the systems that people rely on for safe, running water. International Medical Corps is responding with practical solutions.
When the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed, more than 200,000 people suddenly lost access to piped water. In the city of Pokrov, local authorities were forced to take emergency measures to save the overall water system, but as a result, taps ran dry for many residents—especially those in the upper floors of residential buildings. Families were forced to haul water by hand, or go without it, for daily needs like cooking and hygiene.
Working with the Pokrov water company, our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene team installed booster pumps in high-rise buildings to restore pressure, helping more than 17,000 people access water again. This simple fix reduced strain on the city’s network, prevented further pipe damage and enabled the system to keep running safely—meaning that families could once again rely on water reaching their homes.
Across the region, where limited resources have left some water utilities struggling to supply communities with access to safe water, International Medical Corps is providing mobile water treatment units that filter large amounts of water each day. In Mala Dolyna, where the pumping station suffered extensive damage, our team replaced the village water network, including more than two miles of pipe. Efforts like these are helping families spend less time worrying about water and more time rebuilding their lives.
Responding to Conflict in the Middle East
Rising tensions across the Middle East have escalated into widespread conflict. Across the region, attacks have damaged hospitals, disrupted basic services and forced families to flee their homes. Despite the insecurity, International Medical Corps continues to provide lifesaving medical care in some of the hardest-hit areas—including Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
In Lebanon, the impact has been severe and widespread. Ongoing airstrikes and clashes have killed and injured thousands—including many children—and pushed more than 1 million people from their homes. Hospitals and health clinics are under immense strain, with dozens damaged or forced to close after repeated attacks. Many families are now sheltering in schools, public buildings or crowded homes—often far from their regular doctors and without reliable access to care. As communities are displaced, pregnant women, children and people with chronic illnesses can find it difficult to get much-needed medical services.
International Medical Corps is working closely with Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health to ensure continuity of care for civilians affected by the war. For example, clinics that we support are providing free medical visits for displaced families. Our mobile teams are traveling to shelters to treat illnesses, provide medicines, vaccinate children and offer basic mental health support. We are also distributing essential supplies and hygiene items to reduce the risk of disease in crowded settings.
As needs continue to grow, our focus remains on making sure families can still see a doctor, get their medications and protect their health during increasingly unstable times.
Assisting Drought-Ridden Families in Somalia
In Somalia, years of conflict combined with repeated droughts and floods have forced nearly 4 million people from their homes. Many families are struggling to find enough food and clean water. Outbreaks of infectious disease are a constant threat. In some areas, the drought has been especially severe, drying up wells and killing livestock—animals that many communities depend on to survive.
International Medical Corps has worked in Somalia for more than 30 years, partnering with local communities to respond to these challenges. In drought-affected regions like Mudug, our teams are delivering emergency water by truck, to help families and keep remaining livestock alive. We are also providing healthcare, nutrition support and basic supplies to prevent illness and keep people healthy in difficult conditions.
We’re also addressing longer-term needs by improving access to clean water, providing nutrition programs for malnourished children and mothers, and supporting the mental health needs of people coping with stress and loss. By working closely with local partners, International Medical Corps is helping families manage today’s hardships while building more stable conditions for the future.
Delivering Lifesaving Care in Cameroon
In Cameroon’s Northwest region, years of conflict have made healthcare hard to access, especially for mothers and young children. Many families live far from clinics, lack clear information about how to take care of their health or feel unsafe traveling for care. This puts pregnant women and undernourished children at serious risk, even from conditions that are preventable or treatable with timely support.
International Medical Corps works through trained local teams who go door to door, meeting families and building trust through simple, practical health education. In the village of Akwaja, outreach workers spoke with Nwambe, who was expecting twins and planning to give birth at home. After learning about the risks, she chose to deliver at a health center, where a trained midwife helped her safely give birth to two healthy boys. In Wumfi village, a community health worker identified signs of malnutrition in 22-month-old Ramatou during a home visit and helped her get treatment before her condition became life-threatening.
Care does not stop after the clinic visit. Health workers continue to follow up with families, checking on children’s recovery, supporting mothers and sharing practical guidance on nutrition and childcare.
Since 2008, International Medical Corps has supported communities across Cameroon through this hands-on, local approach—helping families get the right care at the right time, even in places where the health system is stretched thin.
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International Medical Corps is a global first responder that delivers emergency medical and related services to those affected by conflict, disaster and disease, no matter where they are, no matter the conditions. We also train people in their communities, providing them with the skills they need to recover, chart their own path to self-reliance and become effective first responders themselves. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, we are a nonprofit with no religious or political affiliation, and now have more than 8,000 staff members around the world, 96% of whom are locally hired. Since our founding, we have operated in more than 80 countries, and have provided more than $4.2 billion in emergency relief and training to communities worldwide.
Our staff includes experts in emergency medicine, infectious disease, nutrition, mental health, maternal and infant health, gender-based violence prevention and treatment, training, and water, sanitation and hygiene, all within the humanitarian context.
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