As a result of climate change, earthquakes, floods, drought and other natural disasters are wreaking devastation with an increasing intensity. In 2008, natural disasters drove 36 million people from their home (The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2009).
World Vision has developed the following initiatives to help communities prepare, respond and recover from the increasing number of large-scale disasters.
Preparation
Supplies: World Vision's strategically located disaster response warehouses are pre-stocked with relief supplies for rapid shipment in response to a crisis anywhere in the world. Materials include everything from typical relief supplies to communication systems. Staff skilled in set-up of complex equipment accompany shipments and provide training for field personnel.
Immediate Funding for Emergencies: Each fiscal year World Vision ensures up to US $6 million is available for urgent disaster responses. For large-scale emergencies, US$100,000 can be allocated immediately to save lives. Much larger funding can be approved within 24-72 hours. So that funds continue to be available, these emergency allocations are reimbursed through new fund-raising appeals.
Awareness: World Vision staff monitors nature's early warning signals for threats of typhoons, hurricanes or famine to help avert disasters when possible, and mitigate the effects of disasters when they do strike. Research suggests that every dollar spent in disaster mitigation will save $7 when disaster strikes.
Training: Our staff in all regions of the world are trained in emergency preparedness. They train community leaders to prepare for and mitigate the impact of disasters.
Response
Expert Teams: World Vision's 26-member Global Rapid Response Team stands ready for deployment within 24 to 72 hours of a disaster. This team works in extraordinarily difficult circumstances and its team members confront trauma regularly.
Immediate Aid: World Vision provides urgent humanitarian relief and services to children and families.
Local Partnerships: Aware of the complexity of most disasters, World Vision often partners with other international and local relief agencies and local leaders to maximize the speed and effectiveness of our response.
Child-Friendly Spaces: These innovative centres offer children a safe place to play, where they can begin emotional healing and re-establish a normal routine.
Rebuilding
Asset Restoration: World Vision facilitates a return to normalcy by restoring water sources, food, healthcare services, educational resources and shelter lost in the disaster. Post-disaster rehabilitation engages communities in rebuilding social, physical, human, financial and natural capital.
Economic Development: We work to jump-start damaged local economies and reduce the need for ongoing assistance by providing in-kind or cash loans to small business owners, farmers, herders and fishermen.
Peacebuilding: In areas impacted by civil conflict, World Vision engages in reconciliation, mediation and partnership-building efforts between opposing groups.
Long-term Development: With a commitment to recovery, our emergency interventions often lead to long-term development programs such as child sponsorship.
Haiti Response
Immediately after Haiti's earthquake struck, World Vision distributed its stock of emergency supplies located in Haiti. Medical supplies were distributed to 11 hospitals and health centres. Within 72 hours, these emergency provisions were supplemented by two airlifts carrying 22 metric tons of supplies from World Vision warehouses located in other parts of the world. These supplies included tarps, blankets, hygiene kits, cooking sets, collapsible water containers and mosquito nets. Since the earthquake World Vision has been airlifting supplies, including medical equipment, to Haiti on a daily basis.
When the earthquake struck World Vision Canada staff members were conducting an emergency preparedness workshop in Haiti. An immediate response, including a needs assessment, was launched. During the first week after the earthquake, World Vision set up mobile medical clinics to attend to small injuries and continued to distribute medical supplies, clothing, blankets and water.
The Global Rapid Response Team arrived 72 hours after the Haiti earthquake struck. The team helped to organize the delivery of aid in coordination with other NGOs, focusing in particular on water, food and medicine. The Response Team is also looking at how to generate the conditions for long-term reconstruction for children, their families and communities.
In the short-term World Vision will continue to focus on providing food, tents, clean water, mobile medical clinics and hygiene. World Vision will also be creating child friendly spaces where children can find emotional healing by playing in a safe space.
In the coming year World Vision will focus on rehabilitation of water points and sanitation, education programs for children whose schools have been destroyed, maternal and child health and helping families transition from temporary shelter back to permanent homes.
In 2011 World Vision will focus on working with communities to rebuild their lives through economic development, food security and housing.
Please donate to World Vision's Disaster Response Fund.
