Flooding in South Sudan.

Disasters and emergencies

We save the lives of children and work with their communities before and after disaster strikes.

In recent years, Action Against Hunger have responded to every major humanitarian crisis in the world — including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, South Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and the Central African Republic.

This involves responding to a wide range of emergencies, such as those caused by conflict, displacement, the climate crisis or natural disasters.

Our emergency response teams around the world deliver rapid, effective, life-saving assistance — then make sure that short-term interventions become sustainable solutions.

In communities that are at risk of natural disasters, we work to strengthen their resilience to future shocks. We help bolster local economies, improve infrastructure and plan for long-term development.

Our emergency response in numbers

  • 66

    We responded to 66 emergencies around the world in 2022.

  • 22

    22 of the emergencies we responded to were a direct result of conflict.

  • 234

    The average length of our emergency response is 234 days.

How we respond to emergencies

With emergency teams on call 24 hours a day and a constant stock of essential supplies ready for deployment, our internationally-renowned rapid response service makes sure urgent humanitarian assistance can be delivered anywhere in the world when needed.

After a disaster strikes, our teams immediately evaluate the needs of affected populations. This helps us understand what kind of intervention is needed most — for example nutrition, food security, or water, sanitation and hygiene services.

We then team up with government agencies, local partners and community leaders to bring efficient, effective relief to communities.

DEC Ukraine Humanitarian AppealA girl fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. DEC member charities are ready to respond.

DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

More than half a million people have fled their homes to escape conflict in Ukraine. Leaving behind jobs, belongings and loved ones, they need shelter, food and water.

Donate now
DEC Afghanistan Crisis AppealA child is screened for malnutrition in Afghanistan.

DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal

Right now, families in Afghanistan are facing unprecedented levels of hunger and malnutrition. Millions of lives are at risk as a humanitarian crisis grips the country. Save lives today.

Donate now

Here are some recent examples of our emergency response work:

  • Helping war-torn communities in Yemen – the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
  • Responding to the Rohingya refugee emergency in Bangladesh.
  • Stopping the spread of the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Supporting communities affected by Hurricane Eta in Nicaragua.
  • Reducing mortality rates among pregnant women and children under five in communities affected by conflict in northeast Nigeria through nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene services.
  • Responding to floods in Afghanistan by distributing hygiene kits and other non-food items, as well as rebuilding shelters and restoring safe water sources.
DECBushra wears a mask in Al-Harakat Camp in Idlib, Syria.

DEC

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together the leading UK aid charities to raise money and work together to help people impacted by major disasters. The DEC is made up of 14 members from among the biggest humanitarian and development charities in the UK. Action Against Hunger is the DEC’s newest member, joining in September 2018.

How we work together
Start FundAction Against Hunger emergency response in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Start Fund

As members of the Start Network's Start Fund – which is made up of 42 aid agencies – we’re able to respond early and fast to emergencies and ensure decision-making is collective and as localised as possible. The Start Fund provides rapid financing that allows us to respond to the many humanitarian crises around the world that don’t hit the headlines.

Learn more