Emergencies

Disasters, conflicts and disease outbreaks threaten children’s lives, rights and prospects and damage the societies they live in. 

A quarter of the world’s population now live in conflict-affected areas. Humanity is witnessing the highest number of people who are displaced. More than 100 million people have been forced to flee from their homes, 40% of them are children.  

Over 200 million people are affected by disasters caused by natural hazards each year. The effects of climate change are causing increased risks for children. 

Responding to the needs of adolescent girls – who are among the most at risk when disasters strike – is a key focus of our work. Our approach is built on universal human values and humanitarian principles. 

We work with communities and local volunteers and strengthen their resilience and their dignity before, during and after crises.

In 2022, we responded to 81 disasters globally.  Working with local agencies, we carried out 55 child protection, 42 education and 42 cash and voucher programmes along with context-specific lifesaving core humanitarian assistance.