Global Disaster Response

On October 7th, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan roughly 40 kilometers west of Herat City. The area experienced several aftershocks and another 6.3 magnitude quake just days later on October 11th. The quakes have caused massive destruction across several districts with over 12,000 people affected, a number that is expected to rise. The epicenter of the quake, Zindajan district, is the worst affected with nearly 1,300 deaths, many more injuries, and 100 percent of homes destroyed. The United Nations (UN) Cluster System partners have so far assisted in the areas of emergency shelter and non-food items, food security [...]

September 12, 2023 - On September 8, 2023, a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco in the High Atlas mountains, about 71km (44 miles) southwest of Marrakesh. A city of roughly 840,000 people, Marrakesh and the surrounding area has been most impacted, with many homes and businesses collapsed and nearly 3,000 people killed at the latest count. The death toll is likely to increase as the full extent of the destruction becomes clearer. The impact to the country's health infrastructure is significant, as many clinics and hospitals have sustained structural damage and access to remote areas is contrained. The Global [...]

At 4:17 AM local time on February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake with a depth of 24 km struck the Pazarcik District of Kahramanmaraş Province in south-central Turkey, and significant aftershocks were felt throughout the region, including another large, 7.5 magnitude quake in southeastern Turkey just 11 minutes later. In the 10 days since the earthquake, Turkish authorities report over 35,000 fatalities, and the death toll in Syria is nearly 6,000. Sadly, these numbers will continue to increase as search and rescue efforts come to a close. Survivors have been left homeless, many having only what they were wearing [...]

Since Feb. 24, the crisis in Ukraine has affected more than 18 million people across that country, internally displacing as many as 7 million, with more than 12 million individuals in need of urgent humanitarian care and 2 million Ukrainians fleeing to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Lindsey Martin, NP The Center for Global Health (CGH) at Massachusetts General Hospital is committed to responding to the needs of displaced peoples around the globe. It has established The Ukraine Surgical Response Team, focusing on medical support, supplies and on-the-ground assistance. On March 9, Lindsey Martin, NP, director of CGH [...]

Last Updated March 30, 2022 NEW: On March 27, 2022, the Global Disaster Response and Humanitarian Action program deployed a team to Eastern Europe as part of their continued response to the crisis in Ukraine and the current needs of displaced people around the globe. The team is deployed in partnership with Medical Teams International to provide medical support for refugee transit centers and training in point of care ultrasound, ACLS/BLS, and trauma. Future teams are being considered as need arises. March 1, 2022: Since February 24, 18 million people across the country of Ukraine have been affected by recent [...]

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Haiti on August 14, 2021. The USGS estimates that the shaking zone affected more than 2.1 million people. The earthquake caused at least 2,207 deaths, 12,268 injuries, and 129,929 houses damaged or destroyed. Many local hospitals were very quickly overwhelmed.The earthquake preceded Tropical Storm Grace which generated flooding, heavy rains, and strong winds on August 16 and 17. Recent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability also impacted earthquake response efforts. The country is still recovering from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the country in 2010, killing over 200,000 people and [...]

Last Updated August 25, 2021 On August 14, 2021, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Haiti. The USGS estimates that the shaking zone affected more than 2.1 million people. As of August 20, reports indicate 2,207 earthquake-related deaths, 12,268 injuries, and 129,929 houses damaged or destroyed. Many local hospitals are also overwhelmed. We at the MGH Center for Global Health (CGH) extend our thoughts and attention to the people of Haiti and our partners located there. In 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the country killing over 200,000 people and injuring many others. The country is still recovering from the effects [...]