How we work: Emergency response

Mercy Corps team members in Puerto Rico respond in the aftermath of an earthquake.
08 April 2018

The rate of weather-related natural disasters — hurricanes, floods, drought — has more than tripled since the 1960s. And they’re hitting with greater intensity than ever before.

Emergencies like these can have particularly disastrous consequences for the families who have the least ability to endure them. That’s why, as disasters increasingly strike families and children in vulnerable places around the world, Mercy Corps is there to provide lifesaving relief and help communities build back stronger.

Thanks to our global community of supporters and partners, we are able to help millions of families during their time of greatest need:

  • Providing water filters and solar lanterns to survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
  • Distributing emergency cash to families recovering from the devastating 2015 earthquakes in Nepal
  • Supporting survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines with food, cash and tools to repair their homes
  • Helping farmers save their animals and feed their families after drought in Ethiopia

Mercy Corps has responded with lifesaving assistance to nearly every major natural disaster in the last 20 years. And when more prolonged emergencies take hold, our seasoned responders are there, too, to distribute essential supplies, protect families and help communities cope and rebuild.

You can help us continue to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies when they strike — and work with communities to build resilience to natural disasters. Give now to help families facing crisis around the world.