Aid to Refugees
In addition to expanding our existing programs in Ukraine, International Medical Corps has set up hubs in Poland, Romania and Moldova to provide humanitarian services throughout the region—procuring medicines, supplies and equipment based on requests we are receiving from hospitals and primary-care centers within Ukraine; securing routes to get these critically needed items to our hubs; and moving them across the border. We also are working with government agencies to provide medical care, mental health and psychosocial support and protection services to refugees, and forging partnerships to implement programs while we pursue registration in those countries.
For example, in Poland we are working with partners to provide health and MHPSS services to refugees there, as well as to communities in Ukraine located near the Polish border. We also are distributing health- and WASH-related supplies—as well as non-food items (NFIs), such as diapers and towels—to shelters and reception centers, and offering employment opportunities to displaced Ukrainians with specialized skills to provide services to fellow refugees. We also are providing technical assistance on protection-related issues, with priorities including GBV prevention and response, child-friendly spaces, and psychosocial first aid (PFA) support and training.
In Moldova, we are working with the Ministry of Health to strengthen its health system, particularly along the border with Ukraine, and have provided shipments of health- and WASH-related supplies to facilities and reception centers there. We also are providing training to strengthen the health system and help it prepare for potential additional waves of refugees.
International Medical Corps has established corridors from Poland, Romania and Moldova into Ukraine, to ensure that we can continue to deliver critical medical supplies to responders inside the country, helping to ensure continuity of care. If requested by national governments, we can deploy our Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Type 1, in either fixed or mobile configuration, to provide medical and other care to refugees. We are the only NGO in the world classified by the WHO as an EMT Type 1 provider for both configurations.