We Are Responding to Emergencies in Turkey and the Philippines On October 30, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck 8 miles northeast of the Greek island of Samos, mainly affecting the western province and city of İzmir, Turkey. The earthquake has caused severe damage to homes and health facilities. As survivors have gathered in emergency shelters, …
On Friday, October 30, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck 8 miles northeast of the Greek island of Samos, mainly affecting the western province and city of İzmir, Turkey, but felt as far away as Istanbul, Bodrum, Mugla and Manisa. The province has since been shaken by almost 1,150 aftershocks, with 43 of them more powerful …
On World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations is honoring frontline health workers including doctors, nurses, midwifes and volunteers. John McGhie, Emergency response director for the Middle East, Asia and Europe at the International Medical Corps has more.
Note from the editor: In this article, published to observe Human Rights Day, International Medical Corps reflects on the importance of health as a human right. We also share some examples from the frontlines, where our committed healthcare workers put theory into practice, helping people who have had their lives ripped apart by conflict to …
“My life was dark. I spent most of the time in my room and wouldn’t let anyone in.” This is how Ali—a 21-year-old Syrian refugee living in Turkey—described his life just a few months ago. Given what Ali has been through, his outlook on life isn’t that surprising. Ali was forced from his home in …
This month, Syria’s relentless civil war is more than a decade old. The humanitarian crisis left in the wake of this conflict will only grow in the years to come. The fighting, which has claimed an estimated 500,000 lives, has caused more than half of the country’s pre-war population of 21 million to flee their …
For someone who works all around the world, Merve Kan thinks a lot about the word “home.” Born in Turkey, she started her humanitarian relief career five years ago, after writing her Master’s thesis on the resilience of migrants and their perception of home. This theme plays itself out in her work today as a …
“I’m so happy.” Seda Sertdemir says this several times in our conversation, emphatically. The joy brimming in her voice and the lightness of her laughter make it hard to imagine the devastating things she has witnessed as a nutrition manager for International Medical Corps, having worked with Syrian refugees in Turkey and Puerto Ricans affected …
After being held by Turkish authorities in Gaziantep since April 20, 2017, eleven International Medical Corps staff members, all of whom are Syrians that were working to provide aid to their fellow refugees in need, have been released from detention. All have been allowed to return to their homes in Turkey. On April 20, fifteen …
On April 20, 2017, fifteen International Medical Corps staff members holding valid Turkish work permits were detained by Turkish authorities in Gaziantep. On April 25, four of the staff were deported back to their respective countries, but the remaining 11 staff – all Syrian nationals – remain in detention. International Medical Corps is working with …
For those who must leave it all behind …