Emergency relief
Rapid support when it matters most
Menschen für Menschen provides emergency relief in Ethiopia. Because droughts, floods, conflict-related displacement and landslides create emergency situations in which people need rapid and efficient support.
In Emergency situation, we provide assistance without losing sight of or reducingn our long-term development projects. Our core mission is, and always will be, sustainable development cooperation with the local people. This is what Menschen für Menschen has stood for in Ethiopia for over 40 years.
“Our aim is to ensure that the emergency relief, like all of our initiatives, is as sustainable as possible.”
Donate now, so we can support the people when every minute counts.
When do we provide emergency relief?
Once an emergency has occurred, we assess what type of emergency relief is most appropriate for the situation. Every emergency is different, making it difficult to define universal criteria. That´ s why at Menschen für Menschen, we believe that we have to assess the situation on the ground ourselves. It is important to us that we provide emergency relief under our own responsibility. Only then can we ensure that support truly reaches the people who need it most.
Because we operate in project areas across different parts of the country, our teams are often located close to emergency situations. This means we are frequently among the first organizations on the ground and can respond quickly. For example, we use our own trucks to deliver food to affected regions, where our staff distributes the supplies and provides direct support to those in need.
At Menschen für Menschen, we strive to make our emergency relief efforts as sustainable as possible, even though this is not always feasible in every situation.
What kind of emergency relief do we provide?
Once we have assessed the situation, we determine the most effective way to support those affected.
Our first priorities are food security and access to medical care. When needed, we distribute the standard food package recommended by the United Nations World Food Programme, which includes cereals, pulses, and cooking oil. Young children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, also receive protein-rich supplementary foods, such as Famix.
Depending on the nature of the emergency and the region, we help restore sanitation infrastructure and ensure access to safe drinking water. We also support waste management in displacement camps and assist with clean-up efforts following landslides and other natural disasters.
Because sustainability is central to all our work, including emergency relief, we, for example, distribute fast-growing, resilient seeds wherever this is appropriate and feasible. This enables affected communities to restore their own food production and strengthen their food security as quickly as possible.
Whenever circumstances allow, we also use our time on the ground to provide training for local communities. We offer sessions on medical care, nutrition, and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). In this way, we help build knowledge and skills in these areas that remain embedded in the community for the long term.
Particularly in conflict-affected areas, we now also provide psychosocial support for people who have experienced trauma.
Your donation helps ensure that we are ready to respond whenever and wherever help is urgently needed.
Where and when have we provided emergency relief?
