Mission Trip – International Medical Relief – Belgium / Ukraine Refugee Relief

International Medical Relief Volunteer Mission - Belgium / Ukraine Refugee Relief

Organization: International Medical Relief (IMR)
Mission Location: Belgium
Population Served: Ukrainian refugees and displaced families
Mission Dates: 12/06/2026-12/12/2026
Arrival & Orientation: Sunday, 12/06/2026
Service/Clinic Days: Monday-Thursday, 12/07/2026-12/10/2026
Free Day: Friday, 12/11/2026
Departure: Saturday, 12/12/2026
Assignment Type: International Humanitarian / Volunteer Mission
Compensation: Volunteer - Unpaid
Lodging: Safe, clean double-occupancy accommodations provided
Meals: Not provided
Medication Distribution: Not included on this mission per Ministry of Health requirements

Important: This is not a paid locum tenens assignment or employment opportunity with HPA Healthcare. HPA Healthcare is sharing this International Medical Relief volunteer opportunity with our practitioner network for awareness and does not sponsor, organize, operate, or administer the mission. HPA receives no compensation related to participation. Registration, eligibility, credentialing, clinical scope, fees, insurance, travel requirements, and all mission logistics are established and administered by International Medical Relief.

Position Overview

International Medical Relief is returning to Belgium to support Ukrainian refugees displaced by the ongoing war, building on its initial Belgium outreach in 2024.

Belgium is currently home to approximately 100,000 Ukrainian refugees who fled Ukraine between 2022 and 2026, with women, children, and older adults comprising much of the displaced population. Many are navigating the combined challenges of displacement, language barriers, unfamiliar legal and healthcare systems, separation from family, financial hardship, and the psychological effects of war.

This December mission will bring volunteers together with IMR's NGO and community partners to support refugees through health education, mental-health programming, vision support, children's activities, public-health initiatives, and direct human connection.

The mission coincides with Saint Nicholas Day (Sinterklaas/Saint-Nicolas), an especially important Belgian tradition for children, creating an additional opportunity for volunteers to support and engage displaced families during the holiday season.

Mission Highlights

• Serve Ukrainian refugees and displaced families directly in Belgium
• 4 dedicated clinic/service days
• Participate in an established IMR Ukraine humanitarian relief initiative
• Support community health education and preventive health programs
• Assist with reading-glasses distribution to adults and older refugees
• Participate in mental-health education and training
• Support children's programming and activities
• Provide education focused on infectious-disease prevention, health and hygiene, mental health, and lifestyle management
• Work alongside IMR's NGO and community partners
• Help refugees navigate the challenges associated with displacement and resettlement
• Mission coincides with Belgium's Saint Nicholas Day season
• Safe, clean double-occupancy lodging provided
• Opportunity for both medical and non-medical volunteers
• No medication distribution on this particular mission
• Opportunity to contribute even without specialized medical credentials

The Need

The continuing war in Ukraine has created a prolonged humanitarian crisis throughout Europe. Refugees who have been forced to rebuild their lives in Belgium face challenges extending far beyond immediate physical health.

Many arrived without established social networks, knowledge of local systems, proficiency in local languages, or the financial resources they previously relied upon. Families may also be separated from loved ones who remain in Ukraine.

Mental health is therefore an important component of this mission. Depression, isolation, grief, uncertainty, and other consequences of war and forced displacement can have a significant impact on refugees and their families.

IMR's response focuses not only on immediate support but also on sustainable health education and community-based resources that can continue benefiting individuals after the mission team leaves.

This Mission

Volunteers will work alongside IMR's partners to support Ukrainian refugees through a combination of healthcare-related education, community programming, and direct service.

Unlike a traditional medical clinic mission centered around medication treatment, this mission places significant emphasis on education, prevention, mental health, vision assistance, children's programming, and community support.

Per the requirements of IMR's Ministry of Health partners, medications will not be distributed during this mission.

The absence of medication distribution does not eliminate the opportunity for meaningful clinical and humanitarian impact. Volunteers can help individuals better understand their health, provide practical preventive-health education, assist with vision needs, support mental-health initiatives, and help refugees feel connected to the communities in which they are rebuilding their lives.

Volunteer Opportunities & Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities will depend on the volunteer's professional credentials, experience, IMR's mission needs, and the scope authorized by IMR and its local partners.

Activities may include community health and wellness education; infectious-disease prevention education; health and hygiene instruction; mental-health education and coping strategies; lifestyle-management education; reading-glasses distribution; children's programming; assistance with clinic/community operations; translation or logistical support where appropriate; organization and distribution of approved supplies; and companionship and community engagement with displaced families.

Volunteers must practice only within the role and scope authorized by IMR and applicable local requirements.

Who Can Participate?

This mission is not limited to physicians or other licensed healthcare professionals.

Depending upon IMR's eligibility requirements and mission needs, volunteer teams may include physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, dentists and other healthcare professionals, students, and non-medical volunteers.

Non-medical volunteers can make meaningful contributions through children's activities, education, organization, logistics, community engagement, and other support functions.

Specialized medical credentials are therefore not required for every volunteer role.

Mental Health & Community Support

A particularly important aspect of this mission is supporting people living with the psychological consequences of war and displacement.

Volunteers may participate in mental-health education, community support, coping and wellness programming, and other activities established by IMR and its local partners.

Volunteers should approach every interaction with compassion, cultural sensitivity, respect, patience, and an understanding that refugees may have experienced significant trauma, loss, and displacement.

Volunteers are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and should not independently diagnose, treat, counsel, or provide services outside their credentials or the scope specifically authorized for the mission.

Lodging & Transportation

For this disaster-relief mission, volunteers will be provided with safe, clean and comfortable double-occupancy accommodations.

Meals are not provided.

Participants should carefully review IMR's current mission materials for transportation arrangements, airport requirements, arrival/departure instructions, and any expenses for which the individual volunteer is responsible.

Volunteers are responsible for complying with IMR's travel requirements and arranging any travel that IMR specifies as participant-arranged.

Mission Schedule

Volunteer Expectations

Participants should be prepared to work collaboratively with IMR personnel, NGO partners, local organizations, fellow volunteers, and members of the refugee community.

Volunteers should remain flexible regarding daily activities because humanitarian missions may change based on community needs, local requirements, safety considerations, weather, transportation, or other circumstances.

All volunteers are expected to respect local culture and laws, maintain patient and participant confidentiality, follow IMR safety and security protocols, work within their authorized professional scope, and comply with instructions from IMR and its local partners.

Safety & Security

International Medical Relief identifies team safety and security as a priority in its Ukraine-response operations.

Because this mission supports people displaced by an active international conflict, volunteers must follow all IMR security instructions, travel guidance, local-partner requirements, and changes to mission activities or itineraries.

HPA Healthcare does not independently evaluate or guarantee the safety of an international mission destination. Individuals should review IMR's current safety information and make their own informed decision regarding participation.

Credentialing & Professional Requirements

Healthcare professionals should be prepared to provide any professional documentation required by IMR, which may include current professional licensure, certifications, professional credentials, identification, health documentation, vaccination records, background information, or other documentation necessary for the volunteer role.

IMR and its local partners determine volunteer eligibility, credentialing requirements, permitted clinical activities, and professional scope of practice.

Participation in a U.S. healthcare profession or an HPA Healthcare assignment does not independently authorize a practitioner to provide clinical services internationally.

Compensation

This is an unpaid volunteer humanitarian mission.

There are no HPA provider pay rates, client bill rates, commissions, or locum tenens compensation associated with this opportunity.

Any program or participation fees are established and collected by International Medical Relief, not HPA Healthcare.

Volunteers should review IMR's current mission information before registering to understand all applicable program fees and what is and is not included.

Insurance & Professional Liability

Participants should confirm directly with International Medical Relief what travel, medical, evacuation, professional liability/malpractice, and other insurance coverage is provided or required for this specific mission.

Licensed healthcare professionals should not assume that malpractice coverage associated with an HPA Healthcare locum tenens assignment applies to international volunteer activities.

Any professional liability coverage applicable to this mission, including coverage terms, limits, exclusions, and eligibility requirements, is governed by the arrangements established by IMR and/or its partners.

Important HPA Healthcare Notice

HPA Healthcare is sharing this opportunity with our healthcare practitioner network because we believe our practitioners may be interested in humanitarian service opportunities.

HPA Healthcare is not the sponsor, organizer, operator, employer, staffing agency, or administrator of this mission and does not control volunteer selection, registration, credentialing, clinical privileges, scope of practice, program fees, travel, lodging, transportation, insurance, professional liability coverage, safety protocols, cancellations, refunds, or mission operations.

Participation is entirely voluntary and independent of any employment, independent-contractor, locum tenens, or other professional relationship with HPA Healthcare. Participation or non-participation will not affect a practitioner's eligibility for HPA Healthcare assignments.

All prospective volunteers should review the official IMR mission information and confirm current dates, fees, inclusions, exclusions, travel requirements, lodging, meals, credentialing, vaccinations, insurance, malpractice coverage where applicable, cancellation/refund policies, safety requirements, and volunteer eligibility directly with International Medical Relief before making travel arrangements or financial commitments.

About International Medical Relief

International Medical Relief organizes humanitarian medical and community-health missions around the world, bringing healthcare professionals and other volunteers together with local partners to serve communities with limited access to care.

For this mission, IMR's work in Belgium is focused on supporting Ukrainian refugees through community health education, mental-health initiatives, vision support, children's programming, preventive-health education, and humanitarian assistance.

Registration and all mission-specific questions should be handled directly through International Medical Relief.