In February 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked Europe’s biggest refugee movement since the Second World War. Millions of Ukrainians—mostly women and children—escaped the conflict by fleeing to Poland and other European countries. “In those first few days of the war, nobody had much information about what was happening at the Polish–Ukrainian border, so I …
Imagine waking up every morning and not knowing where your next meal will come from. Your country’s economy has collapsed, inflation is skyrocketing and your husband’s daily wage is so small you’re uncertain if you’ll be able to afford basic items like food, clothes or toiletries. For a long time, this was a daily reality …
Life has been incredibly difficult for Ukrainians since the Russian invasion that began in February 2022. Millions have been forced to flee the fighting—losing loved ones, their homes, their schools and jobs. Many of them are now suffering from long-term stress caused by traumatic events, which can have negative impacts on their mental health. This …
As we reflect on International Medical Corps’ 40-year history, we are highlighting some of the courageous volunteers and staff members who have dedicated their lives over the years to helping others. This profile of Dr. Michael Grady is the fourth in that series. We previously have profiled two other volunteers, Dr. Mike Karch and Dr. …
“My husband and children couldn’t sleep at night because of the bombings,” says Suaad. The 45-year-old Syrian woman deftly threads her sewing machine as she tells the story of how she became a refugee. Suaad and her family lived on the outskirts of Damascus when the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011. Their area …
The Central African Republic (CAR) mission’s gender-based violence (GBV) work has been life-changing for women—especially widows—in Bambari. “Thanks to our activities, I don’t go unnoticed in the streets of Bambari,” says Bedi Bienvenue, who has been GBV Technical Manager at our CAR mission since 2021. “Women, girls, authorities—they all show me their gratitude for International …
Kharkivska oblast in northeast Ukraine has been battered by attacks since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. On May 10, 2024, Russia launched a new offensive on the region, leading to rapidly escalating violence and destruction—and massive displacement. The threats of daily bombings and attacks in the oblast have forced 25,000 people to …
Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Nigeria on a temporary deployment. The purpose of the visit was to learn about the Economic and Social Empowerment (EA$E) approach, which is integrated with the Nigeria mission’s gender-based violence (GBV) program and women’s and girls’ safe spaces (WGSS). It took me three days …
International Medical Corps’ history in Ukraine dates back to 1999, but we’ve worked consistently in the country since 2014, when conflict broke out in the southeast. Based in Mariupol, our team provided outpatient primary healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and treatment services, and immunization support. When Russia invaded Ukraine …
Due to entrenched income inequality, many women around the world struggle to earn enough money to support their families. For Afghan refugee women in Pakistan, this challenge can be even more overwhelming. Due to cultural constraints, they often don’t have access to the training courses necessary to learn income-generating skills. Through our women’s economic empowerment …