Emergency Response

Our disaster relief work saves lives – but it does far more than that. We warm, nourish, comfort and protect children who’ve experienced the unthinkable. We continue to walk beside them as their communities rebuild. And we press governments for programs and policies to secure their futures.

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emergency responses

people reached

4.8 million

countries

Change

In Ethiopia, families using positive coping methods when faced with disaster increased from

27% to 45%Jarso | 2016-2022

Change

In Mongolia, caregivers affected by disaster who were able to maintain their standard of living increased from

46% to 55%Khan Uul | 2013-2021

Progress

1,454,557people benefited from cash transfers

Progress

487groups have a disaster preparedness strategy in place

Progress

7,520emergency kits were distributed to support families in dire need

Connected Sustainable Development Goals

Learn how we're working to achieve them

Videos

Two young girls smile at each other as they stand in a grass field with a bicycle.

Our Approach

Families in much of the world are finding themselves in increasingly precarious situations, yet more vulnerable to environmental and political shocks. In 2022, the Sustainable Development Goals Report warned that cascading and interconnected crises are now putting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in grave danger. This only deepens our commitment to providing assistance for children and families in crisis.

Humanitarian emergencies result from many kinds of situations—from environmental disasters like drought or earthquakes to political conflicts that drive people from their homes. These crises can build slowly over time or strike suddenly and unexpectedly.

How World Vision assesses and responds to emergencies

Our emergency response efforts prioritize saving lives in the short term, while working with communities to help them rebuild when immediate threats have passed. We keep girls and boys at the centre of our plans, concentrating on their physical and emotional safety and wellbeing—and this focus on children often sets us apart.

World Vision uses four categories as we assess emergencies and plan our responses.

CATEGORY III (Crisis Response) are the most severe crises, where societies are unable to respond and recover without large scale external assistance.
CATEGORY II (Crisis Response) are significant humanitarian crises that impact large numbers of people in societies that can respond and recover with limited external assistance.
CATEGORY I (Crisis Response) are community level or subnational crises with localized impacts, where the community is able to respond and recover, with some assistance.
SUSTAINED HUMANITARIAN RESPONSES (Chronic Emergencies and Fragile Contexts) are emergency responses that have been running for 24 months, and are projected to continue for at least another year.

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Stories

A crowd of mothers wait in line at a food distribution.

Global hunger is surging towards catastrophe in an unprecedented way, with the war in Ukraine, COVID-19, climate change and instability causing new hunger hotspots to pop up across the globe.

A woman holds back tears as a girl looks up at her.

With violence intensifying across eastern and southern Ukraine, refugees need more than food and shelter – they need protection and mental health support.

A humanitarian worker in an orange shirt and mask distributes food to people.

Humanitarian assistance helps save lives in the here and now – no matter where people live and what they are facing.

Support emergency response

In the wake of a disaster, it’s children who suffer most. Help provide life-saving supplies to children and families affected by crisis.

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A group of three children standing outside smiling and embracing each other.

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.