No person and no country is exempt from the risk of emergency or natural disaster. Catastrophes, whether man-made or natural disasters, can claim thousands of lives in an instant.

No one is exempt! In an emergency situation families can be stripped of their possessions, leaving children vulnerable and helpless. They are left particularly vulnerable to illness and trauma requiring special care and attention at a time when it’s least likely to be available.

World Vision, with a global network of relief teams and offices, is active in nearly 100 countries, so when an emergency happens response can be immediate to help those affected.

Through Children in Crisis – Emergencies & Disaster Mitigation you can be part of providing immediate help to those affected in emergency situations. With your contribution, World Vision will have the funds available to meet people’s needs as soon as an emergency happens.

From famines, droughts, earthquakes and tsunamis to typhoons, floods and war, World Vision will be there helping with your contributions.

In November 2007, Cyclone Sidr slammed into Bangladesh damaging more than 1.2 million homes and devastating millions of people.

Among the worst hit were two World Vision supported communities – home to more than 6,400 sponsored children – setting development work back some 10 years.

"Like most things, this cyclone has hit the poorest people the hardest. People will literally have to rebuild their lives from nothing," said World Vision CEO Lisa Cescon

With the help of Children in Crisis Emergency and Disaster Mitigation supporters, World Vision was able to provide aid and ongoing rehabilitation to the people of Bangaldesh.

Immediate aid included supplying emergency food, clothes, utensils and candles. World Vision also provided emergency shelter and corrugated iron sheeting to help people repair their homes. Another immediate priority was attending to water, sanitation and hygiene to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.

World Vision continues to work in Bangladesh to help the communities rebuild and become self-sustaining in the long term.

Ongoing disaster mitigation in Bangladesh means there are specially trained teams who ensure relief supplies are rapidly distributed to the community when an emergency happens.