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Mercy Relief [1] is a Non-Governmental humanitarian organization based in Singapore. It was established in 2001 by Perdaus, a Malay-Muslim organization and became the first Muslim organisation in Singapore with a disaster humanitarian relief wing. The organization was officially launched [2] on 12 May 2001 by Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Minister For Community Development and Sports and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.
At the start of their inception, the volunteers provided doctors, nurses and logistical personnel for the medical relief missions to Afghanistan. They donated food, and helped run schools for the child refugees there. In Cambodia, they raised funds for the flood victims, and helped build wells and sanitation systems in villages. After the war in Iraq, Mercy Relief also raised funds to help Iraqi refugees and victims of war. [3] Locally, the volunteers also helped out orphans and under-privileged children.
By 2003, Mercy Relief was strategically launched as an independent charitable nongovernmental humanitarian organisation and conferred the Institute of Public Character (IPC) status to have a greater outreach and impact to the global community. The then-Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong gave a speech [4] at the launch of this new organisational structure.
Apart from responding to immediate disasters in the Asian region, its longer-term developmental projects also focus on water & sanitation, shelter, sustainable livelihoods, healthcare and education.
Mercy Relief responds within 72 hours of a disaster, delivering emergency aid to affected communities. So far, it has executed 84 separate disaster relief operations as well as 65 sustainable developmental programs. Over the past decade, Mercy Relief has reached to some 2.2 million beneficiaries in 26 different countries across Asia. [5]
Officially launched in 2003, Mercy Relief is Singapore's only independent Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) involved in humanitarian disaster relief. In December 2003, Mercy Relief was granted the Institution of Public Character (IPC) Status. [6]
The charity's first response since its official launch was to Bohorok River flash floods in North Sumatra in 2003, followed by the earthquake in Bam, Iran in the same year. [6] The next year, Mercy Relief was awarded the annual Singapore International Foundation Award for its efforts in spreading the Singaporean spirit in 11 countries through its works. [7]
Mercy Relief was invited by United Nations in 2008 to speak at the International Disaster and Risk Conference, on "Peace-time strategies that can ease relief operations and the management of risks during and after such calamities". [8]
In 2009, Singapore observed its inaugural World Humanitarian Day, where the works and sacrifices of humanitarians, including Mercy Relief's, was commemorated. It then partnered with Singapore Polytechnic in 2010 to conduct a two-year diploma-plus certificate course in humanitarian affairs. [9]
Mercy Relief also hosted Singapore's president, President Tony Tan Keng Yam at a humanitarian assistance project site in Magelang, Indonesia in 2012. [10] And in that same year, they participated in Singapore's National Day Parade for the first time, as part of the marching contingent. [11]
Mercy Relief responded to the torrential floods and storm surges in Vietnam & the Philippines on 11 November 2020. Due to the monsoon season, heavy downpours and tropical storms have led to landslides and flash floods, leaving infrastructures wrecked and thousands displaced in Vietnam and the Philippines. In just over a month, Vietnam was hit with six storms which caused widespread floods and landslides, leaving at least 239 people dead or missing and 1.5 million people directly affected and in need of clean water, food, medical care and shelter. Landfalls in the Philippines caused by Typhoon Goni, the world's strongest typhoon of 2020, killed at least 67 people and displaced over 408,000 people.[ citation needed ]
Mercy Relief worked with its ground partners, WARECOD in Vietnam & CDRC Philippines, to provide the emergency relief aid of food packs, clean water, hygiene kits, blankets and tarpaulin to the affected communities of Vietnam and the Philippines.[ citation needed ] A total of 1222 relief packs were distributed, benefiting 4472 individuals.[ citation needed ]
Intense downpour equivalent to 72,000 Olympic-size swimming pools [12] hit the capital on New Year's Eve. It triggered landslides and floods that have since claimed 66 lives and displaced 173,000 people across 12 villages, [12] with South and East Jakarta reported to be the most affected. [13]
Mercy Relief responded to the emergency by providing hot meals and clean water to the affected communities. Hygiene kits and solar lamps were also distributed to ensure that the survivors could keep up with the hygiene requirements. The efforts have since reached 8,286 people in collaboration with Aksi Cepat Tanggap.
Typhoon Phanfone (known locally as Ursula) swept through the Visayas islands, Philippines, on Christmas Eve and continued through Christmas Day. The disaster destroyed 2,300 villages and affected 1.9 million. An estimated 378,000 houses, 400 schools, and 32 public structures were damaged. The death toll stood at 50 and close to 370 injuries were reported. [14]
Mercy Relief worked with Southern Tagalog People's Response Center to assist the affected communities and delivered hot meals to them. Food packs were also distributed in 3 areas in Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro, reaching a total of 2,320 beneficiaries in total.
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Davao del Sur, Mindanao on 15 December 2019 and affected more than 378,000 people, of which approximately 108,000 of them were survivors of the October earthquakes. The quake saw the destruction of thousands of homes, schools and healthcare facilities and records 210 injuries and 13 fatalities. [15]
Mercy Relief worked with Disaster Response Center to conduct needs assessments and delivered hot meals to the affected communities. Non-perishables, water and plastic sheets were also distributed. A total of 2,066 people was reached.
Typhoon Kammuri (known locally as Tisoy) hit Northern Samar on 3 December 2019 and brought violent winds and intense rainfall to the region. More than 2 million people were affected as the typhoon swept through their village and destroy their boats, the main source of their livelihood. [16]
Working hand in hand with local partners, Leyte Center for Development and Southern Tagalog People's Response Center, Mercy Relief conducted needs assessments and prepared hot meals for families in evacuation centers in seven 7 communities in the municipality of Mapanas, as well as 6 communities in Palapag, Northern Samar. Basic psychosocial session was also conducted with children. The efforts benefitted 7,184 individuals in total.
Earthquakes ranging in magnitude between 6.1 and 6.6 struck Cotabato province of the Philippines in October 2019, damaging structures and agricultures. [17] At its peak, over 71,969 families were displaced. [18] Close to 47,500 houses were totally damaged or partially damaged in the disaster.
Mercy Relief worked with Disaster Response Center and Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation to conduct needs assessments and deliver hot meals to the affected communities. The effort reached 1,904 in total.
One of the worst natural disasters to hit Japan in a decade, Typhoon Hagibis left Honshu island in destruction when it brought heavy rainfalls that triggered landslides and floods. The unprecedented downpour has submerged many areas in the waters strong wind and saw 7 million people placed on non-compulsory evacuation orders. [19] More than 40,000 houses were flooded, and numerous electric infrastructures were damaged. [20]
For 19 weeks, Mercy Relief and its ground partner, Association for Aid and Relief Japan, gave out hot meals to the communities in Nagano, Fukushima, and Miyagi prefecture. Subsequently, it also funded the repair work of facilities in 2 social welfare centers, and a research project centered on understanding the needs of disabled people in Tokyo. Doing so will help authorities and organizations to gain knowledge of the needs and meet them effectively. A total of 4930 beneficiaries were reached at the end of the mission and post-disaster efforts.
A series of earthquakes struck Lombok in July through September, triggering tsunami and liquefaction and landslides altogether. [21] Close to 3000 deaths were reported, [22] and more than 2 million people were displaced for their houses are either destroyed or partially damaged. [21] Numerous infrastructures were severely damaged in the process, including the vital power and water supply. [23]
Mercy Relief responded to the disaster by distributing food and relief supplies to the survivors. It also partnered with YEU, a local NGO, to deliver medical services to survivors in northern Lombok. Mobile clinic services were set up in Teniga village and Pendua Village. To ensure that the affected communities' health is kept up, food provisions and supplementary feeding for children under the age of 5 were also provided. Clean water, water reservoirs and water tanks were also distributed to villages and shelters. The total number of beneficiaries in the aforementioned efforts is 1,600 individuals, made possible with the $13,000 public fundraising.
Sulawesi was struck by a series of earthquakes 28 September 2018, with the strongest one recorded at 7.5 magnitude. Over 2,000 deaths and 5,0000 missing cases were reported. The disaster is reported to affect approximately 1.5 million people and damaged more than 68,000 houses. [24]
Calls for donation also garnered generous donations from the public, $30,761 on donation platform, Giving.SG, and $360,000 from Singapore's Muslim community. These funds enabled the survivors to receive more aids to recuperate. A team was deployed to the scene with YAKKUM Emergency Unit, a local NGO, to distribute food packages, water, shelter kits, and LED lamps to the affected communities in Sigi, Palu, and Donggala district. Health services were also provided across 3 camps and a church to treat illnesses or injuries sustained by the locals. The efforts benefited 9,540 survivors in total.
A volcano eruption between the islands of Java and Sumatra caused an underground landslide and triggered a tsunami that struck coastal areas —Pandeglang, Serang, South Lampung and Tanggamus— hard. [25] The impact of the tsunami was grave, with death toll amounting to 437, injured persons at 14,059, and more than 36,000 displaced. [26]
Mercy Relief delved into a 6-day relief mission with Yayason PKPA to provide support to the survivors. Essential items, blankets, hygiene kits, water, and food supplies were distributed to the affected communities. The aid reached 3,569 people in total and was made possible through crowdfunding initiative by MediaCorp and on Giving.Sg.
Kerala experienced an abnormally high rainfall—42% above normal range—between June and mid-August 2018 that result in severe floods. [27] The situation worsened when water from 37 dams were released from their catchment due to the torrential rain. [28] The dire situation reports 433 deaths and saw 1.4 million people displaced. [28]
A disaster response team was deployed to aid the communities in Kerala. 400 relief kits which include basic food and hygiene items were distributed in the Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts of Kerala and 36 household water wells were restored for local families. The efforts were made possible with Rapid Response and $17,000 [29] relief funds raised from the public.
Floods and landslides triggered by heavy downpour destroyed crushed buildings and left numerous prefectures partially submerged in water. [30] The disaster reported 220 deaths and rendered 12 missing. 39,067 houses were reported to be damaged across the 15 affected prefectures. [31]
Donations garnered enabled Mercy Relief and its ground partner, Association for Aid and Relief Japan, to provide hot meals and fruits for the displaced communities. A total of 10,670 survivors were reached. Healthcare services were also provided on the ground at Mabi Town to care for the vulnerable groups. Subsequently, Mercy Relief supported the operation cost of a community support project for deaf persons at Okayama, Hiroshima and Ehime prefecture, in partnership with chapters of Japanese Federation of the Deaf to better support the community in need. Finally, in partnership with Japan Disability Forum, Mercy Relief also purchased agricultural equipment for 2 social welfare centers in Hiroshima and Ehime to support survivors with disabilities.
On 23 July night, a dam under construction in the Attapeu Province of Laos collapsed and water equivalent to 2 million Olympic-size swimming pools obliterated villages downstream. [32] The disaster reported 71 deaths [33] and destroyed multiple infrastructures. [34] Over 11,000 Laotians were affected, and many are left homeless as mud have washed over their houses, making it unliveable. [35] The aftermath sees livelihood of villagers wiped out as farms, vehicles for transport, and houses were all destroyed.
Mercy Relief partnered with Shanti Volunteer Association in Laos and deployed its team to Attapeu to distribute 150 family relief kits to families displaced from their villages near the collapsed dam. Cooking utensils and solar lamps were also provided to 1,000 survivors at the evacuation center.
A phreatic eruption of Mayon at the start of 2018 set Albay in a state of distress after the active volcano started spewing ash and lava on 13 January, emitting Sulphur dioxide gas as it carried out its activities. [36] Fearing violent eruption, many families were evacuated to temporary shelters. At its height, over 90,000 were displaced. [37] The eruption ravaged through March.
Mercy Relief, together with its ground partners—Disaster Response Center and Tarabang para sa Bicol (TABI)— provided hot meals to the affected communities. Nutritious meals were prepared in various evacuation center kitchens and mobile kitchens. 8,229 individuals were reached.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak (known locally as Urduja) struck the Visayas region of Philippines in December 2017. The heavy rain and wind damaged numerous coastal villages and threatened locals whose livelihoods are dependent on farming and fishing. 43 deaths were reported in the aftermath. [38]
Mercy Relief worked with Disaster Response Center and disaster preparedness committee leaders from 2 villages and municipal youth members to procure food and prepared hot meals for individuals and children affected by the typhoon. A total of 1,900 meals were served to children and individuals.
Ethnic conflict in the Rakhine state of Myanmar has displaced over 30,000 ethnic Muslims and minority groups and destroyed approximately 3,000 houses. [39] Violence rose as security forces and armed groups were engaged in active conflict. The crackdown unleashed by the state forced people to flee their homes as the siege intensifies and movements of people are restricted.
Partnering with Myanmar Heart Development Organization, Mercy Relief conducted 10 relief missions across 13 villages to ensure food security. A total of 2,200 relief packs were provided to the households in the Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.
Attacks launched by Arakhine Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Rakhine, Myanmar, in August 2017 have forced more than 607,000 refugees to flee to Bangladesh on foot. [40] The sudden influx of refugees led to a dire shortage in supply of food, shelter, water in the camps and makeshift settlements at the border of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Working closely with the Singapore Armed Forces, [41] Mercy Relief managed to bring essential supplies worth $270,000 to Bangladesh and deliver them to the troubled survivors. Tents, shelter kits, solar lamps and more were distributed in Cox's Bazar Dignity kits containing shawls, sanitary napkins and soap were also prepared for women. The effort reached a sum of 20,859 people. Mercy Relief also partnered with Human Aid Bangladesh Foundation to operate a health care centre in Bulukhali Camp -9 to provide maternal and child healthcare services for the refugees. Additionally, Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) training was conducted in Camp -16 to educate health volunteers on procedures to ensure safe delivery and transition to motherhood in the camp. The total number of beneficiaries is 23,345 people.
A torrential monsoon blanketed Nepal, India, and Bangladesh in August 2017 and led to major flooding and large-scale landslides. 41 million people were affected across the 3 countries. [42] The communities were hit hard as homes, livelihood, and major infrastructures like airports and railways were destroyed or damaged. [42]
Mercy Relief responded to the crisis by launching a multi-country relief mission. Food packs, hygiene kits, and bedding materials necessary to tide survivors through the tough period were distributed. In collaboration with Heart Beat and Rural Development Centre (RDC) in Nepal, Purvanchal Gramin Vikas Sansthan (PGVS) in India, and HEED Bangladesh, a total of 5,761 survivors were reached. Subsequently, Mercy Relief also distributed farming materials to farmers in Naogaon District, Bangladesh, to speed up the recovery process for agriculture production, benefitting 70 farmers and 45 families. The team also provided 115 families with housing materials to construct their transitional shelters.
The early arrival of the southwest monsoon in May 2017 shattered 15 districts in Sri Lanka and led to the deaths of 219 people. Strong winds and heavy rainfalls triggered severe flooding and landslides. Close to 80,000 houses were dismantled, affecting 229,235 families. [43]
Together with Sarvodaya Foundation, Mercy Relief distributed 710 emergency food and hygiene packs to the affected communities in Kalutara, Galle and Matara district, all of which reported to be the most severely affected areas. The mission benefitted 3,550 people in total.
In October 2016, Typhoon Haima hit some areas of the Philippines and nearby countries, leading to 19 fatalities. In Cagayan province alone, between 50,000 and 60,000 hectares of rice fields were flattened and flooded by the typhoon, causing serious concerns about food security and livelihoods. [44]
Mercy Relief distributed emergency food supplies and essentials such as rice, oil, dried foods and blankets as well as 100 water filtration kits [45] (WateROAM) to communities who were affected by Typhoon Haima in the Philippines. In total, 3,750 beneficiaries were reached in the municipalities of Amulung and Rizal in the Cagayan region.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck Aceh in 2016, which displaced more than 11,000 people, left 104 deceased and at least 1,200 injured. [46]
Mercy Relief responded to the disaster by deploying a two-man disaster response team to assess the needs of the community on the ground and coordinate disaster relief efforts. [47] Among other sources, funds amounting $46,570 were raised through the website Giving.sg specific for the Aceh Earthquake Relief [48] and the team provided aid and assistance which include basic healthcare provision and improving community kitchens catering to mothers and children in Aceh.
The team also led a Maternal and Child Health programme to provide 217 pregnant, lactating mothers and their children with nutritional meals as well as health clinics. 266 mosquito nets were also distributed to the affected villagers to prevent the spread of disease
Two earthquake struck Kumomoto in Japan in mid-April of magnitudes of 6.5 and 7.3, these damaged 140,000 homes and displaced 11,000 people. Mercy Relief was able to respond to this humanitarian crises with $333,000 in aid funding which was able to benefit 37,000 individuals. Of these people, 18,700 hot meals were distributed to survivors over only 47 days.
Mercy Relief responded to the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, which killed at least 8,000 people, and more than 18,000 people have been injured. Mercy Relief deployed a 2-man preliminary disaster to Kathmandu, Nepal within 48 hours of the disaster and provided shelter, food, medicine, hygiene kits and water for the survivors.
During the post-disaster phase, Mercy Relief managed to raise $750,000 to help victims of the Nepal earthquake, [49] of which $60,000 went to support acute relief effort. [50] It has also launched fundraising campaigns, collaborating with organizations like Qoo10 on an online fundraising campaign, raising over $30,000. [51] And Singapore Civil Defence Force, where volunteers cycled for 10 hours on 6 water filtration bicycles to raise funds for the victims in Nepal. [52]
Mercy Relief also undertook reconstruction projects to provide a secure roof for quake survivors and temporary structures to be used as a school before the onset of the monsoon. Using public donations, it put up 510 shelters, providing shelter to individuals during the monsoon season. [53] The next phase focused on permanent shelter reconstruction after the monsoon passes. In total, about $1.5 million of funds were raised to provide acute relief and reconstruction efforts. [50] [54] [55]
Up till 28 April 2015, the team has done 27 relief distribution and 8 medical missions, helping individuals living in the rural regions of Kathmandu and other areas of Nepal and about 20,000 beneficiaries. [51]
The 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, which started in 2006, was a military operation by Israel. It started on 8 July 2014, lasting for 49 days, ending on 26 August 2014. [56] The Gaza conflict resulted in 1,748 deaths and 9,078 Palestinians injured. [57] It left more than 273,000 Palestinians displaced, 1.8 million people affected, 138 schools and 26 health facilities damaged. [58] [59] [60]
In light of the military operations, Mercy Relief worked with Palestinian Wefaq Association and Palestinian Red Cross Society to help victims of the operation. [57] It has contributed $400,000 worth of aid, of which $250,000 was distributed as an initial tranche. It also provided $60,000 worth of food aid, $100,000 worth of medical supplies, and a fully equipped ambulance, which will be deployed by its Palestinian partner agency. [61]
In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan swept the Philippines in early November 2013. [62] One of the deadliest typhoons in Philippines in modern history, [63] it caused 6,300 in Philippines alone [64] and affected 14.1 million people. [65]
In the wake of the typhoon, Mercy Relief launched a public fundraising from 7 to 31 December, raising $1.16 million from public donations to help individuals affected by the typhoon. [66] The donations were channelled to mainly funding health-care missions and rebuilding efforts. Besides fundraising, Mercy Relief focused on providing acute emergency relief and gathering relief supplies from neighbouring, less affected areas. [67] It dispatched teams to provinces devastated by the typhoon, helping about 25,000 people. [68]
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami happened on 11 March 2011. [69] [70] [71] It started as a 9.0 undersea earthquake, that resulted in a tsunami which caused 15, 893 deaths, 6,152 injured and 2,572 people missing. [72]
Following the disaster, Mercy Relief raised $2.6 million for victims, where they spent on operations and logistics, buying essentials and radioactive protective suits for survivors. [73] It camped out in disaster-stricken regions in Japan for 5 months, pumped $2.8 million to help victims of the disaster. [74] This included distributing 5000 winter blankets in Ishinomaki, a city located in Miyagi. [75]
Mercy Relief, with the help of a Japanese volunteer, implemented the Tohoku Livelihood and Recovery program, an 8-month program which trains individuals to operate heavy machinery. The program benefited 300 farming and fishing communities across Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. And following the program, 832 Japanese were trained to operate heavy machinery, allowing them to help in decontamination works, removing debris left behind by the earthquake. [76]
The 2010 Pakistan floods happened in late July due to heavy monsoon rains that affected the Indus River basin. As a result of the flood, about 20% of Pakistan's total land area was submerged. [77] [78] [79] The floods killed close to 2000 people, and directly affected approximately 20 million people were affected. [80]
In response to the flood, Mercy Relief sent disaster relief teams [81] and has helped raise $509,000 to provide relief aid and supplies to the flood victims. [82] It also distributed ultra-filtration systems, food and tents for residents. [81] Realising a shortage of medical services, Mercy Relief partnered with SingHealth and South City Hospital in Pakistan, where a medical mission team was sent to aid residents living in that region. [81]
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake was an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, [83] [84] [85] which happened on 12 May 2008. It killed 69,197 people and left 18,222 people missing. [86]
Mercy Relief responded to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which killed almost 90,000 people and affected a population of 11 million. It was the first foreign group to deliver essentials such as toothpaste and milk powder amounting to $50,000 to Lushan, the southwestern part of Sichuan. [87] Apart from helping the Lushan community, Mercy Relief also helped individuals in Baoxing, where they supported in the provision of relief supplies, worth $250,000.
Back home in Singapore, Mercy Relief have raised over $1.1 million. More than half of the amount was used for the reconstruction of two rural schools. [88]
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, also known as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, [89] [90] happened on 26 December 2004 and resulted in a tsunami which killed 230,000 people in 14 countries. [91]
Following the tsunami, Mercy Relief raised $1.1 million, spending on supplies for the victims. [92] Apart from raising funds, Mercy Relief managed food relief packages, food and water donations. It also sent two teams to Sri Lanka and Aceh to help with post-disaster work. In Aceh, it spearheaded a S$2 million housing project, building proper housing for 900 victims of the tsunami, [93] and donated fishing boats to the locals. [94] Mercy Relief also took on a US$3 million project to rebuild the only hospital in Meulaboh, West Aceh that was struck by the tsunami, [95] as well as other school and orphanage building projects. [96]
On 10 October 2015, Mercy Relief organized Singapore's first humanitarian-themed charity race in Singapore, Ground Zero, Run for Humanity. [97] The run garnered 1,100 participants and saw some 500 participants carrying a 5 kg relief pack while completing a 5 km Relief Aid Challenge, mimicking the experiences of victims in natural disasters. [97] Attendees of the event include Minister of Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli.
On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time (UTC+7), a major earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2–9.3 Mw struck with an epicentre off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The undersea megathrust earthquake, known by the scientific community as the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake, was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma Plate and the Indian Plate, and reached a Mercalli intensity up to IX in some areas.
Indonesia was the first country to be seriously affected by the earthquake and tsunami created by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004, swamping the northern and western coastal areas of Sumatra, and the smaller outlying islands off Sumatra. Nearly all the casualties and damage took place within the province of Aceh. The time of arrival of the tsunami was between 15 and 30 minutes after the deadly earthquake. According to the country's National Disaster Relief Coordination Agency, around 130,000 people were dead and 37,063 were missing. In addition, the UN estimated that 655,000 people were homeless and sheltering in scattered refugee camps across the province.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 110 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Food for Life Global is a non-profit vegan food relief organization founded in 1995 to serve as the headquarters for Food for Life projects. Food for Life Global has its roots in ISKCON dating back to 1974. It is a completely independent non-profit organization that supports the work of Food for Life projects both inside and outside of ISKCON. Its network of 291 affiliates span the globe, with projects occupying over 65 countries. Volunteers provide over 1 million free meals daily. Food For Life engages in various sorts of hunger relief, including outreach to the homeless, provision for disadvantaged children throughout India, and provision for victims of natural disasters around the world.
Typhoon Durian, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Reming, was a deadly tropical cyclone that wreaked havoc in the Philippines and later crossed the Malay Peninsula in late November 2006, causing massive loss of life when mudflows from the Mayon Volcano buried many villages.
Direct Relief is a nonprofit humanitarian organization whose mission is to improve the lives of people in poverty or emergency situations by providing the appropriate medical resources. The charity provides emergency medical assistance and disaster relief in the United States and internationally. The organization is headed by an independent board of directors and its president and CEO, Thomas Tighe.
Acted is a French international solidarity non-governmental organization (NGO), founded in 1993. It is headquartered in Paris.
The 2006–2007 Southeast Asian floods were a series of floods that mostly affected Malaysia from 18 December 2006 to 13 January 2007. The floods were caused by above average rainfall, which was attributed to Typhoon Utor (2006) which had hit the Philippines and Vietnam a few days earlier. By the third week of January 2007, Johor had been affected by a larger flood. Singapore and certain parts of Indonesia were flooded due to the same typhoon.
MERCY Malaysia or Malaysian Medical Relief Society is a non-profit organisation focusing on providing medical relief, sustainable health related development and risk reduction activities for vulnerable communities in both crisis and non-crisis situations. As a non-profit organisation, MERCY Malaysia relies solely on funding and donations from organisations and generous individuals to continue their services to provide humanitarian assistance to beneficiaries, both in Malaysia and internationally. The organisation is a registered society according to the Societies Act 1966 in Malaysia, and the headquarters is in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity established in 2000 in Helston, Cornwall, UK, that provides emergency shelter and other aid items to families around the world who have lost their homes to disaster or conflict.
The first of the 2009 Sumatra earthquakes occurred on 30 September off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia with a moment magnitude of 7.6 at 17:16:10 local time. The epicenter was 45 kilometres (28 mi) west-northwest of Padang, West Sumatra, and 220 kilometres (140 mi) southwest of Pekanbaru, Riau. Government and authorities confirmed 1,115 dead, 1,214 severely injured and 1,688 slightly injured. The most deaths occurred in the areas of Padang Pariaman (675), Padang (313), Agam (80) and Pariaman (37). In addition, around 135,000 houses were severely damaged, 65,000 houses were moderately damaged and 79,000 houses were slightly damaged. An estimated 250,000 families have been affected by the earthquake through the total or partial loss of their homes and livelihoods.
IsraAID is an Israel-based non-governmental organization that responds to emergencies all over the world with targeted humanitarian help. This includes disaster relief, from search and rescue to rebuilding communities and schools, to providing aid packages, medical assistance, and post-psychotrauma care. IsraAID has also been involved in an increasing number of international development projects with focuses on agriculture, medicine, and mental health.
The Aceh Tsunami Museum, located in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia, is a museum designed as a symbolic reminder of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster, as well as an educational center and an emergency disaster shelter in case the area is ever hit by a tsunami again.
Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Japan received messages of condolence and offers of assistance from a range of international leaders. According to Japan's foreign ministry, 163 countries and regions, and 43 international organizations had offered assistance to Japan as of September 15, 2011. The magnitude of the earthquake was estimated at 9.1. This article is a list of charitable and humanitarian responses to the disaster from governments and non-governmental organizations. As of March 2012, donations to areas affected by the disaster totalled ¥520 billion and 930,000 people have assisted in disaster recovery efforts.
Severe Tropical Storm Washi, known in the Philippines as Severe Tropical Storm Sendong, was a late-season tropical cyclone that caused around 1,200 to 1,500 deaths and catastrophic damage in the Philippines in late 2011. Washi made landfall over Mindanao, a major region in the Philippines, on December 16. Washi weakened slightly after passing Mindanao, but regained strength in the Sulu Sea, and made landfall again over Palawan on December 17.
The 2013 Bohol earthquake occurred on October 15 at 8:12:31 PST in Bohol, an island province located in Central Visayas, Philippines. The magnitude of the earthquake was recorded at Mw 7.2, with epicenter 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) S 24° W of Sagbayan, and its depth of focus was 12 kilometres (7.5 mi). It affected the whole Central Visayas region, particularly Bohol and Cebu. The earthquake was felt in the whole Visayas area and as far as Masbate island in the north and Cotabato provinces in southern Mindanao.
Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. Upon making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. It is one of the deadliest Philippine typhoons on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. In terms of JTWC-estimated 1-minute sustained winds, Haiyan is tied with Meranti in 2016 for being the second strongest landfalling tropical cyclone on record, only behind Goni of 2020. As of January 2014, bodies were still being found. Haiyan was also the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2013.
In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines received numerous messages of condolence and offers of assistance from a range of international leaders.
All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization's current structure formed in late 2017, when two existing nonprofits, All Hands Volunteers and Happy Hearts Fund merged to become All Hands and Hearts. All Hands Volunteers was founded in September 2005 by philanthropist and businessman David Campbell to provide relief to residents in areas affected by natural disasters worldwide. Happy Hearts Fund, founded by philanthropist and supermodel, Petra Němcová, sought a similar goal, to help communities recover after a disaster event. All Hands and Hearts is based in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.
In late June through mid-July 2018, successive heavy downpours in southwestern Japan resulted in widespread, devastating floods and mudflows. The event is officially referred to as Heisei san-jū-nen shichi-gatsu gōu by the Japan Meteorological Agency. As of 20 July, 225 people were confirmed dead across 15 prefectures with a further 13 people reported missing. More than 8 million people were advised or urged to evacuate across 23 prefectures. It is the deadliest freshwater flood-related disaster in the country since the 1982 Nagasaki flood when 299 people died.