Imagine your home ripped apart, your livelihood taken away and your neighbourhood destroyed.

While this scenario seems improbable here in Canada, millions of ordinary people were recently confronted with this very situation. They are the victims of recent flooding, earthquakes or hurricanes in communities around the globe.

Through generous Canadian donations, World Vision is helping survivors of natural disasters restore and rehabilitate their homes, communities and livelihoods.

Peru Earthquake
What Happened
A massive 8.0 magnitude earthquake killed 519 people, toppled buildings and left thousands homeless 150 km south of Lima on August 15.

Response
Within the first five days after the quake, World Vision assisted more than 5,000 families with aid that included blankets, clothes, tents, shoes and food. Crucial to World Vision's relief efforts was the contribution of funds by Barrick Gold Corporation.

Thanks to a donation of air freight from Air Canada, World Vision Canada airlifted two skids of emergency medicine to Peru. This contributed to the overall delivery of medicine to seven Peruvian hospitals and community health centres.

Today
World Vision continues to help survivors of the quake by providing household and kitchen kits, tools and support for house reconstruction, and medicine to affected communities. In addition, World Vision is offering support for children's education by providing families with educational supplies. 
 
African Flooding
What Happened
Heavy rains have created a massive flood zone, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Red Sea and affecting one million Africans in 17 countries. Thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed, hundreds of thousands of homes washed away and fears of the outbreak of diseases like cholera and malaria are high.

Response
World Vision is working in countries such as Ghana and Uganda to help families in immediate needs of food, clean water and shelter.

Today
While rain is expected to continue for weeks to come, World Vision aid workers are continuing their immediate response and assessments of affected communities.

Indonesia Earthquake
What Happened
Thousands of people are living in makeshift tents after a massive 8.4 magnitude earthquake, and a series of strong aftershocks, damaged houses, public buildings and places of worship on the western coast of Sumatra island in Indonesia.

Response
World Vision sent relief supply packages of clothing, blankets and sleeping mats to at least 2,000 people in remote, hard-hit communities. 

Today
World Vision is continuing to closely monitor the needs of those affected and additional workers are being sent to the region to distribute relief items.

Hurricane Felix
What Happened
An official state of emergency was declared in the Atlantic region of Nicaragua after Hurricane Felix damaged 11,500 homes and left thousands of families displaced.

Response
World Vision rushed supplies of clothing, shoes, medicines and rolls of plastics for covering roofs of those affected.

Today
World Vision staff is coordinating relief efforts with local authorities. Supplies including water-purification tablets, vitamins for children and, thanks to a partnership with the Rotary Club of Stratford, Ontario, water purifiers were airlifted from World Vision Canada to the hurricane-drenched region. 

If you would like to help those affected by a recent disaster, click here.