Emergency relief for children
Children’s lives can change in an instant in the wake of war, disasters and humanitarian emergencies. We see how vulnerable they are and how much they need protection. And the need is only growing.
Today, there are more than double the number of emergencies than there were ten years ago. Climate change is unleashing natural disasters faster, for longer and with longer-lasting consequences for children and their families. The needs are greater, and so the response must be too.
With 75 years of experience working in emergencies, World Vision has the learning, infrastructure and global network to help millions of vulnerable children in the world’s most dangerous places - especially in times of unexpected crisis.
Thanks to you, when disaster strikes, our response teams are there, quickly supporting people – and we stay to help children, families, and communities rebuild their lives.
Within 72 hours of a disaster, we can deliver lifesaving supplies anywhere in the world - often even sooner.
Why it is important to us
Our goals are to protect children, save lives, reduce suffering, protect livelihoods, strengthen community resilience and promote peace. We are always ready to provide on-the-ground aid and assistance to those affected by natural or man-made disasters.
World Vision Ireland responds to acute and chronic humanitarian crises across a number of countries in three ways:
- By pooling efforts with other World Vision offices after disasters;
- With valuable support from Irish Aid, our humanitarian response has a very strong focus on health, education and the protection of women and children;
- Through our Childhood Rescue programme in fragile contexts.
Across World Vision Offices
World Vision has the size, experience and expertise to respond immediately with emergency aid when disaster happens. A global network of disaster response experts assess the impact of each disaster, plan the response, request funding from offices like World Vision Ireland, and get to work immediately. The Global Rapid Response Team responds within 24 to 72 of hours of a major disaster and includes logistics staff, child protection experts, water, health and sanitation experts, and communications staff.
WV has offices in 100 countries, so is often already based in disaster regions with local staff being able to start work as soon as possible. The Global Rapid Response Team works alongside local staff for the first 90 days of a disaster. They then set up a long-term team of regional staff to continue the work.
World Vision's history of emergency response
After the Vietnam War, thousands of refugees were at risk. A World Vision ship became the first international rescue ship to provide food and medical assistance to 93 stranded refugees from Vietnam.
In the 1980s, millions were at risk of starvation in Ethiopia due to a famine. We were first in and last out, providing food, water and helping communities become to self sufficient through farming.
In 1994, a genocide in Rwanda killed almost 1 million people. We provided medical care and food and helped people to relocate. When the conflict ended, we developed a reconciliation process.
In the 1990s, when AIDS was stigmatised by the Christian community, we spoke out to help millions of children, helping to bring about global action with the HIV and AIDS Hope Initiative.
The earthquake that hit Indonesia in 2004 triggered a massive tsunami killing nearly 230,000. World Vision initiated its largest-ever relief response across all of the five affected countries.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, killing 250,000 and injuring even more. Within minutes, local World Vision staff sprang into action and began distributing emergency supplies.
Learn about our programmes and approaches
Emergency food distribution approaches
In emergency situations, international food assistance is a critical ‘safety net’ for children and their families who are unable to meet their food and nutritional needs, often due to natural or human-made disasters.
Through our World Food Programming we use food assistance and the provision of cash and vouchers in response to emergency situations, delivering food, or resources to buy food, to the neediest populations.
Humanitarian-Development-Peacebuilding Nexus Approach
In recent years, we have continued to see increases in the levels of child depravation and poverty across the world, particularly in many of the fragile contexts we work in.
The Humanitarian, Development and Peacebuilding Nexus (HDPN) approach emerged from global discussions on better integrating humanitarian, development, and peace efforts, especially after landmark events like the World Humanitarian Summit, to tackle the overlapping challenges of humanitarian crises, development setbacks, and peace-related issues.
Find out more about our positions
A Brighter Future for Fragile Contexts
Fragile Contexts
Critical Reflections
On World Vision Ireland’s Nexus Methodology
Navigating the Nexus
In the Democratic Republic of Congo
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