Every year millions of people are affected by humanitarian crises, including conflict, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks.
From climate-related disasters to prolonged conflicts and insecurity, there has been a steady rise in the frequency of humanitarian emergencies, increasing the number of vulnerable and displaced people in need of humanitarian assistance.
According to the latest figures, some 339 million people in 69 countries will require humanitarian assistance in 2023, with the UN appealing for an increase of 25% in funding compared to last year, when responses were already only half met.
When an emergency strikes
The top priority during the first 72 hours after a disaster unfolds is search-and-rescue and lifesaving medical assistance for those affected. At the same time, provision of shelter, food, water, and medicines must be considered.
When an emergency strikes, humanitarian staff from the United Nations, alongside NGOs, will send specialist staff to the disaster zone within hours. Teams then make a rapid assessment of the most urgent needs faced by children, families, and communities.
When emergencies occur, it is essentially that coordination is at the forefront of the humanitarian response, meaning less gaps and overlaps in the assistance delivered by humanitarian organisations.
The cluster approach, used by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, coordinates multi-agency responses to large humanitarian emergencies and includes clusters such as health, food security, education, nutrition, protection, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Preparing for long-term response
While immediate, rapid response is critical in the first phase of a humanitarian emergency, the needs of people affected by the crisis continue to compound long after the media has departed the disaster area and moved onto other stories.
According to CARE International, humanitarian crises are more complex than at any time in the past 15 years, and last nearly three years longer than they used to. Reconstructing schools and other infrastructure, rebuilding livelihoods, access to psychosocial support, and reimplementing health care and education, and disaster risk mitigation remain high priorities, often for years to come.
Six months after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked large areas of Türkiye and neighbouring Syria, killing tens of thousands and injuring more than 100,000 people, communities are still reeling from the impacts of the disaster. According to the IFRC, many people in Türkiye – particularly those who lost their homes and income – are still struggling with their day-to-day needs, including paying for food, rent, and other necessities, while others are falling deeper into debt to help cover their needs while they recover and build back income sources.
Why donations from the public are vital to humanitarian assistance
Alongside government support, donations from the public are critical to enable and support aid organisations to respond to a humanitarian crisis, both the immediate response and the longer-term assistance that’s required.
Public support to humanitarian organisations can support:
● Immediate humanitarian response such as essential food, shelter, clean water, and health care
● Rescue of, and support for abused, exploited, and abandoned children
● Protection and care for children separated from their families and reunification wherever possible
● Psychosocial support for emotional pain and trauma
● Safe places for children where they can recover, learn, and play again
● Cash assistance to help families rebuild their livelihoods
Establishing the Emergency Action Alliance
EAA was established to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of crisis. Often when a disaster strikes, the public is unsure which organisation to donate to and how. By bringing together 15 leading Australian humanitarian organisations responding to crises, the Australian public is offered one single, trustworthy choice.
EAA operates an extremely cost-effective model, where instead of each member running their own fundraising campaigns, a single centralised appeal is run, saving time, money, and precious resources that members can instead use to carry out their vital work overseas.
As the world sees more disasters than ever before, due to climate change and conflict, your donations are needed to support effective, equitable aid to those most in need. Find out more and donate to our current appeals here.
