Emergencies

Fighting poverty is never more difficult than in times of crisis. For communities already poor and vulnerable, any disaster can be catastrophic.

Rana Riaz, CARE team leader, organising tent distribution in the Allai Valley, Pakistan, following the 2005 earthquake
Rana Riaz, CARE team leader, organising tent distribution in the Allai Valley, Pakistan, following the 2005 earthquake. We helped more than 277,000 people since the devastating earthquake that hit north-west Pakistan in October 2005
©CARE 2006/William Dowell

When disaster strikes, CARE is one of the first to respond. Known for our rapid emergency response, we make sure assistance gets to where it is needed most.

The first phase of our response is to meet people’s basic needs, including food, water, sanitation, shelter and health care. Our emergency capacity - funds, resources and specialist staff - allows us to provide fast, effective relief and we buy materials locally wherever possible.

But our rapid emergency response is only the beginning.  CARE works with communities long after the TV cameras have gone, to help rebuild lives and livelihoods, and to help communities avoid similar suffering in the future.

We carry out emergency preparedness planning with communities to help communities better predict, prepare for and respond to local threats of disaster.  These can range from floods in Central America, food crisis in Africa, to disasters related to conflict.   

We work to move communities as quickly as possible from a situation of emergency response to rehabilitation and sustained development. Helping people help themselves, our longer term activities range from infrastructure repair to helping small businesses grow. In post-conflict rehabilitation programmes, in places such as Angola, Bosnia and El Salvador, we also carry out programmes such as landmine awareness and removal.  

CARE is also leading an international campaign to change the way aid is delivered. Flawed emergency funding, focused on short-term assistance, rather than long-term recovery, is one of the reasons millions of the world’s poorest are constantly living on the edge of disaster.

Giving regularly to our Rapid Response Fund ensures that money is available immediately in a disaster. Donate now >>