The cause of emergency situations for which Terre des Hommes offers humanitarian aid usually concern natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, or acts of war like in the Middle East, the Ukraine and South Sudan. However, medical emergencies may also constitute grounds for action, such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Humanitarian Aid
Wars or natural disasters also affect children. These children face fear, hunger, violence or diseases and are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Terre des Hommes therefore also provides emergency aid, focusing on providing care and protection to children and their families.
Photo: AFP 2016/ Khalil Mazraawi
Background
Goals
Terre des Hommes wants to protect children from exploitation. Especially in emergency situations children are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of exploitation. Terre des Hommes is committed to a focused and effective protection of children in emergencies. We always try to work together with other, local organizations.
What we do
The approach taken by Terre des Hommes is aimed at:
- Prevention of exploitation
- Child protection
- Education
- Health care
What does Terre des Hommes do?
Terre des Hommes offers child friendly spaces where children can play, and express and process their traumas under professional guidance and in a safe environment. Here, the children can also learn about children’s rights, as well as practical issues such as for example hygiene. Psychosocial support is always available and, if necessary, children and their parents are referred to professional psychological treatment. In addition, Terre des Hommes frequently provides information to parents and caregivers regarding for example children’s rights, but also about issues such as nutrition and hygiene.
Depending on the situation, the first priority may be to provide children a safe haven by for example (re)building schools, as was the case following the earthquake in Nepal, or (re)building wells (Zimbabwe) or medical dispensaries (Guinea).
Stronger together for children in emergency situations
At Terre des Hommes we believe that we can help more children by collaborating with other bodies. Only by joining forces as effectively as possible, we can optimize our support to the children. Therefore, Terre des Hommes is a member of the Terre des Hommes International Federation and with respect to emergency aid we collaborate closely with our sister organisations to provide direct aid to children and their families. We also collaborate with local organisations. In The Netherlands, Terre des Hommes collaborates with other Dutch humanitarian organisations within the Dutch Relief Alliance.
Giro555
Terre des Hommes is a permanent member of Giro555. In the event of exceptional disasters, the Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties join forces under the name of Giro555 to raise money for relief efforts. Together we save more lives.
Results
What did we achieve with your help?
In recent years Terre des Hommes has provided emergency aid in for example:
- The Philippines to victims of the deadly typhoons Haiyan in 2013 and Hagupit in 2014
- Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and Tanzania to flood victims
- Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and the Ukraine to victims of war
- Indonesia to boat refugees from Myanmar
- Guinea to the victims of the Ebola outbreak
- Nepal to the victims of the earthquake
- Malta, Greece, Cyprus and Southern Italy to boat refugees
