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Disasters and Emergencies How World Vision Saves Lives

Disasters and Emergencies How World Vision Saves Lives

Emergency locations

Current emergencies

Major past emergencies

Typhoon Ketsana: September 2009

Starting on 26 September 2009 and over the days that followed, Typhoon Ketsana swept through four countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, causing massive flooding and displacement. An estimated six million people were affected. With support from generous Kiwis, World Vision simultaneously launched a relief response across all four countries. Relief and recovery programmes have ensured that the children across the region have access to food, education, health facilities and that their parents received livelihood support.

Samoa tsunami: September 2009

An 8.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by a devastating tsunami, consumed parts of Samoa, neighbouring American Samoa and Tonga on 29 September 2009, leaving more than 300 people dead and scores more injured. Kiwis generously donated over $265,000 to World Vision's appeal for Samoa. World Vision New Zealand immediately sent a technical response team and relief supplies to Samoa, such as flash lights and transistor radios. World Vision also contributed NZ$150,000 to support Habitat for Humanity's rebuilding project of 89 destroyed fales. Remaining funds are being used for a Pacific disaster-preparedness project in collaboration with the Manukau District Health Board and New Zealand Civil Defence.

Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar: May 2008

Cyclone Nargis, one of the worst natural disasters since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, left more than 130,000 people in Myanmar dead and affected 2.5 million others. More than 4000 schools were destroyed. New Zealand donors gave NZ$1.5 million to the Cyclone Nargis appeal which, combined with international World Vision contributions, was put towards immediate emergency response and recovery, as well as the longer term rebuilding phase.

Asian Tsunami: December 2004

On 26 December 2004, one of the deadliest natural disasters of modern history killed more than 200,000 people, chiefly in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Myanmar. Following the Indian Ocean tsunami, the World Vision partnership mounted its largest-ever relief response across the five countries. More than 2600 World Vision staff in five countries helped more than 1.2 million people with emergency relief and recovery. Generous Kiwis donated NZ$5 million in response to World Vision New Zealand's tsunami appeal. Seven years on, infrastructure and livelihoods of the most vulnerable in the affected countries have been restored to a level close to what it was before the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami or even better.

How can you get involved?

You can help us prepare for future disasters by donating to the Children in Crisis Emergency Fund.

Mothers wait in line with their malnourished children and babies
Just in the past year, World Vision New Zealand provided funding for new and ongoing disasters in 17 countries, including the flooding response in Pakistan and the earthquake in Haiti.