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International emergency response

Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer hands out relief items©InfoThere are few humanitarian organisations that respond as quickly to disasters as the Red Cross. Since our volunteers and staff are recruited locally, we are usually the first organisation at the scene.

In 2010, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers across the world have responded to the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, as well as disasters that didn't make the evening news in Britain.

To prepare for such disasters, our emergency response units are on-call 24/7, ready to deploy anywhere in the world to distribute relief items, and provide water and sanitation facilities.
 
Every day, our skilled volunteers respond in the same way to other emergencies – whether they are providing emotional and practical support to victims following a train crash or rushing injured people to hospital after a flood. And we continue to stay long after the emergency is over, working with communities to rebuild their lives and help them to prepare better for future crises.

How you can help

Nobody can predict the exact location of the next drought, earthquake, or violent conflict. But when they happen, the British Red Cross must be ready to act within hours not days.

By supporting our Disaster Fund, your money will be used as soon as it is needed, anywhere in the world. You can help us be ready in advance. You can help save lives the next time disaster strikes.

Find out more about our international emergency response units

Read about our current emergencies

Find out how we prepare for disasters

Latest international disaster news

The British Red Cross is sending a further £120,000 from its Disaster Fund to support work in west Africa tackling a severe food crisis.

The British Red Cross has seconded a highly experienced delegate to work for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Damascus.

The Red Cross has started a livelihoods programme in Liberia to help more than 9,000 people still struggling after Ivory Coast conflict.

Thousands of people have fled their homes, leaving behind most of their belongings. Find out how the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is helping.

The British Red Cross has released £125,000 from its Disaster Fund in an attempt to head off a looming disaster in the Sahel region of west Africa.

To help stem the worsening food crisis across west Africa, the British Red Cross has launched its West Africa Food Crisis Appeal.

Find out about our current emergency appeals  >

Related

Disaster Fund

Refugees on the Libya Tunisia border

Help the Red Cross prepare for disasters. Your donation will be used in the UK or overseas.