#Snapshots December 2024

From Poland to Yemen, see the impact you’ve had as a supporter of our work this month.

Training Aspiring Midwives Assistants in CAR

In low-resource areas, midwives play a crucial role in saving lives during childbirth. Their skills and compassion significantly affect maternal and newborn health, meeting 90% of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent healthcare needs. In the Central African Republic (CAR), the availability of these lifesaving services is critically low.

A student at Bria Annex Institute demonstrates proper breastfeeding techniques for new mothers.

International Medical Corps is shaping the future of maternal healthcare in CAR by training midwifery assistants at the newly established Bria Annex Institute. Launched in partnership with CAR’s Ministries of Health and Higher Education, this program addresses the critical shortage of skilled birth attendants, especially in rural areas. By focusing on culturally sensitive care and comprehensive training, the institute is poised to make a lasting impact on maternal and newborn health outcomes in CAR.

An International Medical Corps instructor (right) supervises a midwifery student as she checks a mother’s blood pressure.

The inaugural class of 18 students has already logged hundreds of hours, mastering essential skills ranging from labor and delivery to postpartum and newborn care. With its sights set on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, this program is a vital step toward creating a healthier, more resilient future for communities nationwide.

Our midwifery training combines classroom learning with hands-on practice.

Supporting People with Disabilities in Poland

The war in Ukraine has created one of the largest refugee crises in recent history, displacing millions of people — including people with disabilities (PwDs), who can face unique challenges in rebuilding their lives. In neighboring Poland, where many Ukrainian refugees have sought safety, we’ve partnered with organizations like the Avalon Foundation to address these needs and promote inclusion for people with disabilities.

Children with their new assistive devices.

Through this collaboration, we’re helping to improve the lives of PwDs by providing assistive devices that support mobility, communication and independence. These devices enable recipients, whose lives have been disrupted by war and displacement, to regain a sense of normalcy and autonomy, empowering them to participate more fully in their communities. Our partnership also supports activities designed to build community between Ukrainian refugees and local residents in Polish host communities.

Children participate in activities designed to help them integrate into their new communities, supported by our partnership with the Avalon Foundation.

As the war continues to disrupt lives and infrastructure in Ukraine, we remain committed to bringing vital care to people in need. By focusing on both immediate needs and long-term resilience, we’re working to ensure that vulnerable communities have the tools and support they need to thrive.

Responding to Increased Humanitarian Needs in South Sudan

Nutrition Assistant Michael Deng Chol screens children for malnutrition and distributes high-energy biscuits to refugees in South Sudan who escaped the war in Sudan.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, has been struggling with conflict and instability since achieving independence in 2011. Over the past year-and-a-half, it has become a primary destination for people fleeing the civil war in neighboring Sudan, which erupted in 2023. That war has devastated countless families, forcing thousands to leave their homes and endure unimaginable hardships as they try to escape the violence. With resources in South Sudan already strained by conflict, outbreaks of disease and devastating floods, Sudanese refugees are facing hunger, disease and a lack of access to basic necessities, such as healthcare and clean water.

Nyadeng Woul Weal sits in an abandoned government building, where she now lives after floods destroyed her village.

International Medical Corps is working diligently in South Sudan to support these vulnerable communities. Our teams are providing essential services such as healthcare and nutrition support, addressing immediate needs while also helping families stabilize and recover. As always, we’re committed to helping communities rebuild in the face of hardship.

Families in Doleb save their belongings as floodwater rise around them.

Providing Mothers in Yemen with Cash Assistance

Afaf is a young mother who has faced immense hardship trying to feed her twin daughters while her husband’s small daily wage barely covered essentials. In Yemen, years of conflict and economic collapse have left families like Afaf’s in desperate circumstances, struggling to afford basic necessities.

A community health worker checks in on Afaf after she established a small shop to sell goods to local women.

Her story reflects the broader struggles of millions of Yemenis living in poverty, with food insecurity affecting 17.6 million people and malnutrition rates alarmingly high among children and mothers.

Local women receive cash assistance from our distribution team.

When International Medical Corps stepped in with cash assistance, Afaf’s life began to change. The funds provided immediate relief, helping her secure food and necessities, while enabling her to open a small shop in her village, which improved her family’s financial stability. Cash assistance addresses urgent needs and fosters long-term resilience, offering hope and dignity to vulnerable families amidst Yemen’s ongoing crisis.

A child in Yemen receives Plumpy’nut, a therapeutic food used to treat malnutrition in children.

Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week in Cameroon

Our teams around the globe marked World Breastfeeding Week by highlighting the vital role that breastfeeding plays in building healthier communities. In Cameroon, we organized educational sessions that reached more than 275 people, including caregivers, health workers and community leaders. These sessions emphasized the health benefits of breastfeeding and provided practical guidance to support mothers and their children.

International Medical Corps staff lead educational sessions on breastfeeding.

By equipping communities with knowledge and resources, we’re fostering a culture of support for breastfeeding. This effort not only strengthens maternal and child health but also contributes to the overall well-being of families.

A community health worker checks in attendees for a session on the importance of breastfeeding.

Equipping Displaced Ukrainians with Mental Health Resources

In Ukraine, International Medical Corps’ Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team recently led discussions and activities for internally displaced people, focused on identifying and utilizing available resources. These sessions encouraged people to explore personal and community resources that could help them cope with their challenging circumstances.

MHPSS team members lead a discussion for a group of displaced people.

The program shared practical strategies for managing stress and building resilience by fostering conversations around skills, relationships and local support networks. The aim of this initiative is to support individual well-being and strengthen community bonds.

Participants gather information on MHPSS resources (left) and participate in activities led by our team.

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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 8,500 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 $4.5 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.

To arrange an interview on or off the record, contact our Media Relations team at media@internationalmedicalcorps.org.