Whether created by a natural disaster - drought, floods, earthquake of famine - or by a violent conflict, an emergency causes intense suffering, trauma and loss. We work in emergency situations providing immediate relief and setting up long-term projects that help communities rebuild their lives and prepare them for future disasters and conflicts.
Reducing vulnerability
The effects of climate change – floods, cyclones and crop failures – have a much bigger impact on people in poor countries because they don’t have the resources to protect themselves - they suffer the most, even though they have contributed to it the least. That’s why we’re working with communities in vulnerable areas to help them adapt.
Reducing vulnerability to disasters is at the heart of our emergencies work. We do our best to make sure that communities at risk of disasters are prepared, informed and organised. With training from ActionAid, Lamia Akhter saved her family’s life when a cyclone struck. Watch the video and hear her story.
Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA) is a tool developed by ActionAid involving communities and local authorities to look at what makes them vulnerable. This way, they can set up their own means of coping with the disaster that will reduce the effects of hazards like drought, an earthquake or a hurricane.
Relief
Responding immediately once a disaster strikes will not only save lives, but it also helps people deal with their situation straight away and they can recover more quickly. We respond to emergencies straight away by providing food, water, shelter and medicines.
Chery Laurore, 9, and Christella Mislaine Francois, 5, attend class under tarpaulins. ActionAid’s supporters and donors have helped to keep children like Chery and Christella in education through disasters like the 2010 Haiti earthquake. During the first week teachers were doing psychosocial activities with the children to help them release some of the trauma.
Every year over 300 million people are affected by disasters. The poorest and most excluded are often hardest hit. We have existing projects in over 40 countries already so we can respond quickly and our supporters and donors ensure that we provide the essential resources that people need.
Rebuilding
As well a providing immediate relief, we take a long-term approach to emergencies. Thanks to our supporters, we see through long-term projects aimed at lasting recovery and rehabilitating communities who need it.
Cherlandine was trapped under some rubble for three days after the Haiti earthquake until she was found. Now orphaned, she was often depressed and still scared. With the support of her foster mother, and her school that is undertaking ActionAid’s psychosocial support, she is returning to normal. Watch the video and hear Cherlandine’s story.
Living through an emergency or disaster is often incredibly traumatic, especially for children. At ActionAid, we’ve developed an approach called psychosocial care that involves building community support groups as well as drama and music.
Conflict
We know that people affected by conflicts are citizens with rights and responsibilities. We help communities to cope with the effects of violent conflict and strengthen poor people’s institutions.
Yousef Saed lives in Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. He collects empty cartons after school. The electricity supply is intermittent and diesel prices have shot up, making generators an expensive proposition.
There are still thousands of families and people who cannot go home in Gaza, either because they are too afraid or because their homes have been destroyed. They are in desperate need of food and shelter.
ActionAid is providing care for vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, to help them recover from traumatic experiences.