Our story
1992
Somalia
INTERSOS launched its first project in Somalia where, shortly afterwards, it took over the regional hospital in Jowhar, the only medical centre in the entire Middle Shabelle region.
1993
Bosnia and Mozambique
INTERSOS intervened in Central and Northern Bosnia, responding to the needs of the war-affected population. It also launched operations in Mozambique to facilitate the return of refugees from Malawi.
1994
Burundi and Rwanda
INTERSOS opened missions in Burundi to help Rwandan refugees, and in Rwanda to support the National Health System and to facilitate the repatriation of refugees from Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo).
1995
Chechnya and Ingushetia
INTERSOS intervened to help Chechen refugees fleeing to the Republic of Ingushetia by supplying, assembling, and equipping prefabricated houses. In Chechnya, in Grozny, INTERSOS supported the “Railway Hospital”.
1996
Mine Action Unit
The Mine Action Unit was created, first in Bosnia, then in Angola, Afghanistan, and Iraq, for humanitarian demining activities.
1997
Albania
INTERSOS began its intervention in Albania with distributions of food and basic necessities, rehabilitation and equipping of hospitals and health centres, rehabilitation of schools, rural roads, and public buildings.
1998
Angola
INTERSOS’ intervention in Angola began with food security projects, distribution of hygiene kits and basic necessities, programmes for the return of displaced persons, and demining activities.
1999
Nicaragua
Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch, INTERSOS intervened in the Chinandega area with food security and reconstruction support programmes.
2000
Eritrea
INTERSOS opened the mission in Eritrea to respond to drought emergencies.
2001
Afghanistan
INTERSOS started its mission in Afghanistan to assist the population with food security programmes, access to water, and treatment of malnutrition.
2002
Kosovo
In Kosovo, INTERSOS started supporting a programme for the restoration and reconstruction of three mosques and the conservation of frescoes in several Orthodox churches.
2003
Iraq
INTERSOS began its intervention in Iraq with projects to assist the repatriation of Iraqi refugees from Iran and Saudi Arabia, the rehabilitation of medical facilities in Baghdad, mine clearance projects, and protection monitoring.
2004
Sudan and Chad
INTERSOS opened its missions in Sudan and Chad to support people fleeing Darfur.
2005
Sri Lanka
INTERSOS responded to the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami of December 2004 with a reconstruction project in Mutur (North-East of the country).
2006
South Sudan and Lebanon
INTERSOS opened its first base in South Sudan, in Bor, to provide assistance and protection, and in Lebanon to help the population in the Southern areas during and after the conflict with Israel.
2007
Pakistan
INTERSOS complemented the project to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan and host communities with food distribution and the rehabilitation of water and social infrastructure.
2008
Yemen
Operations began in Yemen to assist refugees in camps and to help victims of human trafficking.
2009
Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
INTERSOS opened a mission in Mauritania, in Boghé, to support the repatriation of Mauritanians who had fled in the late 1980s. Intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo also began.
2010
Haiti
INTERSOS began an emergency response to meet the needs of the victims of the violent earthquake in Haiti that destroyed the capital Port-auPrince.
2011
Italy
INTERSOS launched its first intervention in Italy with the opening of the A28 Centre in Rome, a night centre for unaccompanied foreign minors in transit to Northern Europe.
2012
Jordan
INTERSOS opened a new mission in Jordan to provide humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees in the country.
2013
Middle East and Philippines
INTERSOS intensified its response to the Syrian conflict in the Middle East by supporting Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese populations. It intervened in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.
2014
Central African Republic
INTERSOS intervened for the first time in the country to assist the population affected by the violence caused by the internal conflict.
2015
Nepal and the Balkan route
INTERSOS intervened in Nepal, in Kathmandu, following the earthquake. In the same year it began working, with travelling teams, on the Balkan route to assist refugees in transit to Northern Europe.
2016
Greece and Nigeria
INTERSOS began its intervention in Greece, with itinerant teams in the reception camps set up between Thessaloniki and the border of North Macedonia, and also began operations in Nigeria, in the state of Borno, to provide emergency shelter and food security for displaced families.
2017
Italy
The INTERSOS24, centre was established in Rome to offer protection to vulnerable migrant women and minors, together with a medical clinic and social activities for the Italian and foreign resident population.
2018
Libya
INTERSOS began its intervention in Libya with child protection projects. The INTERSOS centre in Tripoli is located in the Suq-al-Juma district, an area with a high concentration of migrants.
2019
Syria and Niger
Mission opened in Syria to assist the population affected by the civil war. Starts intervention in Niger, in the field of child protection and Education in Emergencies for refugees and asylum seekers.
2020
COVID-19
With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, INTERSOS readjusted its project activities in all missions and launched emergency health response programmes in the countries of intervention.
2021
COVAX
INTERSOS launched its support for the COVAX initiative for the equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines worldwide.
2022
Ukraine
immediately mobilised to respond to the Ukrainian crisis, first to assist refugees at the border with Poland and Moldova, and then in Ukraine itself, to provide medical assistance, protection, and psychosocial support.