Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have been providing medical and humanitarian emergency assistance to support communities severely affected by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao, southern Philippines, on 8 June. The earthquake has claimed at least 78 lives, left hundreds of people injured, and forced thousands of families from their homes. 

In the days immediately following the disaster, reports indicated a surge in the presence of humanitarian organisations conducting assessments and providing rapid responses. By the end of the first week however, reports of unfulfilled needs began to emerge, that prompted MSF to send an assessment team on 14 June. We worked in close collaboration with the Department of Health, in two of the hardest-hit municipalities, Malapatan and Glan.

In both locations, many affected communities have still not been reached by other medical organisations. Some organisations who initially committed to providing care through mobile clinics pulled out a week later due to aftershocks. This has led to the Provincial Health Office requesting MSF to provide additional support. We were among the first to provide basic medical care, mental health, and psychosocial support to people. 
 

Building on this response, our teams are strengthening local health systems by supporting overstretched facilities, sending mobile clinics to remote communities, and facilitating referrals for patients requiring higher levels of care. Essential medical supplies have also been provided to help sustain services in affected areas. 

In addition to basic medical care, our colleagues are expanding their mental health and psychosocial support activities through schools and community networks. Teachers undertake orientation in psychological first aid, equipping them to provide ongoing, basic psychological support to children. The teachers will help address trauma as their communities begin to recover. 

“The earthquake has not only overwhelmed health facilities with urgent medical needs but has also left deep psychosocial scars across affected communities,” says Dr Muhammad Shoaib, MSF Philippines Head of Mission. “Many people, especially children and teachers, are struggling to cope with fear, loss and uncertainty, while access to healthcare remains severely disrupted, especially in remote and hard to reach areas.” 

Teachers leading the way to recovery

Teachers, such as Mea Lou Jumamil, from a school in Glan, were deeply affected by the earthquake that struck on the first day of the new school year. Classrooms were severely damaged and many lost their homes. Beyond these physical losses, they faced significant emotional distress, grappling with trauma and uncertainty in the aftermath, while still carrying the responsibility of keeping their students safe. 

For Mea Lou, the moment the earthquake struck remains vivid. 

“We had just settled into the classroom after the flag ceremony when the earthquake started,” says Mea Lou. “My first thought was about the children. I shouted for them to go outside and kept guiding them until we were all safe.”

Despite regular earthquake drills, the experience was overwhelming for both teachers and students. 

“Even with regular drills, the students were shocked and didn’t know what to do,” she says. “Afterward, it was difficult for us, we couldn't sleep and were always on edge.”

The impact on their personal and professional lives left teachers struggling to recover, even as they continued to support their students through the same crisis. With support from MSF, teachers like Mea Lou are beginning to regain a sense of stability.
 
“I am grateful to MSF for supporting us and teaching us psychological first aid,” says Mea Lou. 

As of 29 June, the team has reached four barangays (communities) in Sarangani province which had been neglected by the response. We provided services to 629 patients, including 363 mental health consultations.
  
Common issues seen by MSF staff include viral upper and respiratory tract infections, skin diseases and infected wounds, hypertension, diabetes, and musculoskeletal conditions. Mental health and psychosocial support activities continue, including psychological first aid training and psychosocial support for teachers, and individual counselling. Medicines and medical supplies were also provided to the Provincial Health Officer of Sarangani as part of ongoing support efforts.