Humanitarian Response

Helvetas supports populations affected by disasters to cope and recover in a more resilient manner.

Helvetas engages in humanitarian response to help people in low and middle-income countries meet their most immediate needs during a crisis, while ensuring humanitarian aid is geared towards long-term development activities.

Why humanitarian response matters

Driven by conflict and climate-induced disasters, global humanitarian needs are expected to rise exponentially in the years to come. This increases the pressure on available funding, as well as the demand for holistic approaches by organizations like Helvetas that focus on disaster risk reduction, resilience building and cost-effective responses – all of which are implemented, where possible, by our local partner organizations.

After sudden-onset disasters, such as an earthquake or flash flood, we assist affected persons to meet their most critical needs – including food, access to safe water and sanitation, and shelter. We also support affected communities to recover their livelihoods and rehabilitate essential infrastructure such as shelters and running water while improving resilience to future disasters. This resilience can be achieved, for example, by investing in rural livelihoods through drought-resistant crops or building houses and other infrastructure in a way that’s better equipped to withstand natural disasters.

In protracted crises, Helvetas works with displaced populations and vulnerable host communities to ensure everyone can access basic needs such as food, water and education. We also build self-reliance and promote economic integration through tailored skills development programs that match market demand.

Helvetas supported the construction of more flood-resistant homes in Pakistan following floods that claimed thousands of lives, homes and acres of farmland.

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Helvetas distributed supplies to help people in Pakistan meet their most urgent needs after floods.

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In addition to blankets and hygiene kits, the urgently needed relief supplies also include meals, which are distributed - as here in Lebanon in October 2024. Helvetas is on the ground with partner organizations. © Development for People and Nature Association , DPNA

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What we do

Livelihoods and economic resilience
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
Shelter and resilient infrastructure
Quality education for displaced children

How we work

Gender and social equity, conflict sensitivity and protection are important transversal topics embedded in all of Helvetas’ interventions. Additionally, the following approaches are central to our humanitarian response work:

Principled, people-centered and locally anchored solutions: We promote a more localized humanitarian system, which is reflected in our operational model’s emphasis on equitable partnerships with local organizations.
Market-based approach: Programs are designed with a thorough context understanding of the strengths and gaps in local markets. We prioritize the use of cash and vouchers as an efficient, effective and dignified way for affected persons to choose the goods and services their families need most – all while supporting the local economy.
Nexus thinking: It’s essential to help crisis-affected populations meet their most immediate needs, but it’s also important to consider interventions that could prepare the community to better withstand a future emergency. Wherever feasible, we link our emergency response with longer-term initiatives that build resilience and address the root causes of vulnerability.