Within a matter of minutes, natural hazards can affect the lives of tens of thousands of people. Hundreds or even thousands of people can be injured, homes and livelihoods destroyed. Access to clean water, healthcare services and transport can also be disrupted. The impact of each event varies greatly and our response must adapt to each situation.
Needs must be quickly identified, but accessing a disaster zone can be complex when roads are cut off. The first responders are people already on-site: community members, local authorities and aid organisations already present.
We keep pre-packaged kits to deploy for rapid relief and life-saving assistance. With projects in over 75 countries, we often have aid workers nearby when a disaster strikes. They can be reinforced with additional teams if a larger response is needed.
Malawi: “This time, the flooding has destroyed houses, not lives”
Featured
Time passes, medical needs persist and just a few months to hurricane season
Lead poisoning continues to affect hundreds of children in northwestern Nigeria
Medical needs in Haiti remain high as MSF moves into next crucial phase
Three months after the earthquake that has impacted on the lives of millions in Haiti
Ongoing support to hospitals, plus mobile clinics and more supplies after earthquake in Chile
Research & Analysis
MSF Evaluation Unit: reports on MSF disaster response