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Disaster Relief

Disaster Relief

When disaster strikes, local Compassion staff are often the first to respond.

Give to help children and families devastated by disasters

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There is no such thing as disaster insurance when you live in poverty.

Why Disaster Relief is so important

Disaster frequency

In the past 30 years, the frequency and impact of natural disasters has quadrupled

From 2000-2012 1.2 million have been killed by natural disaster

From 2000-2012 1.2 MILLION have been killed by natural disaster

People affected by natural disaster

The number of people affected globally by natural disasters has risen by an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 per decade since the early 1970s

Low-income countries affected by disasters

It is estimated that since 1980, low-income countries accounted for only 9 percent of global disasters but 48 percent of global-disaster reported fatalities. This is due to the fact that developing countries often suffer from poor physical infrastructure and lack systems to cope with weather-related events, such as drought and flooding

Sources: Child Fund; APPS; UNISDR; World Bank

When earthquakes cause buildings to crumble and floods sweep everything away, it is children who are the hardest hit. Their most basic needs are threatened, and every sense of protection and security is stripped away.

Through our generous supporters, local churches and Compassion staff are often the first to respond when disaster strikes. Compassion works to assist in the relief and rehabilitation that is vital for restoring children and families in our programs after a disaster. Support is provided on two fronts:

  • Relief activities include the provision of emergency food and water, temporary shelters, personal items, cooking utensils, trauma counselling and spiritual support.
  • Rehabilitation activities include clothing and school supplies, replacing household items, restoring livelihood items and continued counselling and support, if needed.

Your support allows effective and quick response when disaster threatens the safety and stability of Compassion assisted children and their families.



See your latest impact through Disaster Relief

See how your generosity changed the lives of children this year.
Download our Disaster Relief Impact Report.

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Disaster Relief Stories

Feature Story
25 Jun, 2020

Four Ways COVID-19 Will Undo Child Development Progress

Millions of children have escaped poverty in the past few decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undo much of that progress. So what are the risks that children face—and how can we respond?.. Read more

07 May, 2020

Born in Quarantine: 5 Beautiful Photos of Newborns Around the World

Quarantine comes with many challenges—especially if you're about to deliver a baby! Find out how these five beautiful newborns were brought into the world during the COVID-19 pandemic... Read more

17 Apr, 2020

How Do Pandemics Affect the Poor?

For the children and their families living in poverty, social distancing and access to medical care can be difficult. This means that during a pandemic, the poor are unevenly affected and among the most vulnerable. .. Read more

FAQs

  • If I give to Critical Needs, where will my money go?

    You can choose to donate to one of nine Critical Needs areas: - Water and Sanitation - Health - Infrastructure - Mums and Babies - Disaster Relief - Education and Training - Income Generation - Highly Vulnerable Children - Where Most Needed

    Your donation goes towards addressing that area of need for children in our program globally. For example, should you give to Water and Sanitation, your donation could go towards providing water filters, water tanks or toilets in any of the over 25 countries where Compassion works. Funds are pooled so that children's most urgent needs are met first, as determined by local church partners who know each child and family in Compassion's program. You can also choose to support an entire Critical Needs project. Please contact us if you are interested in discussing this option further. 

    You can:

    • Give to Critical Needs
    • Sponsor a child
  • How much does it cost to give to Mums and Babies?

    You can give to Mums and Babies for $12 per month or another amount of your choosing. You can also give through a one-off financial contribution. These contributions are pooled to support mothers and babies all around the world. As a Mums and Babies supporter, you will receive updates containing highlights, stories and statistics.

    You can also fund an entire Mums and Babies survival project, or launch a survival project in a new community. The cost to support an entire survival project varies by country, between $15,000 and $25,000 per year. Please contact us to discuss these options further.

    You can:

    • Learn more about Mums and Babies
  • Can I give to Critical Needs if I do not sponsor a child?

    Yes, you can give to Critical Needs if you do not sponsor a child. Critical Needs is essential to overcoming obstacles for children living in poverty and your donation to Critical Needs will go towards helping thousands of children. Choose an area of need that you are most passionate about meeting, and then all you need to do is decide whether your donation is a once-only or a recurring gift. Thank you for your partnership to share a hope more powerful than poverty!

    You can:

    • Give to Critical Needs
    • Sponsor a child
  • Why does the cost to support an entire Mums and Babies survival project vary between countries?

    The care that families receive from Mums and Babies is specific to them, and differs between countries based on children’s needs and the availability and accessibility of government or other support services. This means the cost to support an entire Mums and Babies survival project also varies between countries ($15,000 - $25,000 per year), and has been determined by the price of local services, families' specific needs and currency conversions.

    For example, in Thailand, free universal healthcare is available to families—but not always accessible, especially in remote areas. Instead of replacing existing services, your support empowers Compassion staff to assess and meet each family’s individual and most urgent needs. For children in Thailand, this includes providing educational and health support to increase rates of breastfeeding, helping to prevent undernutrition and stunting for newborns.

    You can support Mums and Babies for $12 per month or another amount of your choosing. You can also give through a one-off financial contribution. These contributions are pooled to support mothers and babies all around the world.

    If you are interested in supporting an entire Mums and Babies survival project, please contact us.

    You can:

    • Give to Mums and Babies
    • Contact us for more information
  • How much does it cost to support Critical Needs?

    The recommended amount to give to one Critical Need is $12 per month. However, you can give any amount of your choosing through either options of one-off or monthly giving. The giving options are flexible, so you have the freedom to support the areas you are most passionate about through Critical Needs.

    You can:

    • Give to Critical Needs