Emergency Response
HIAS upholds its commitment to the most vulnerable by actively preparing for and responding to global emergencies and disasters
Overview
Committed to its mandate of serving those displaced, HIAS responds to emergencies around the world, serving refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced, stateless people and vulnerable host communities. HIAS emergency teams ready and respond to complex conflict or political crises, natural disasters, or the initial effects of climate change.
With over 120 years of humanitarian experience, HIAS understands displaced individuals are at heightened vulnerability in emergencies, and these crises are often the springboard for large-scale and long-term displacement. Recognizing this, HIAS maintains a trained, funded, and ready emergency response team deployable within 72 hours. HIAS provides immediate assistance at the outset of an emergency, specializing in a wide array of protection and other life-saving support. Doing so enables HIAS to continue meeting the most critical needs facing vulnerable populations before, during, and after an emergency.
379,100
people reached by Emergency Response in 2023
106,699
people reached by Emergency Response, together with local partners, in Israel in 2023
3,201
people receiving emergency food assistance in 2023
Main Responses
Technical Response
Oct 11, 2024
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
Oct 11, 2024
HIAS’ Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) emergency programming ensures forcibly displaced persons get culturally appropriate and safe mental health care to promote well-being. In the immediate aftermath of forced displacement and violence, MHPSS programs create safe spaces where people can build constructive interpersonal relationships and begin to restore a sense of dignity, justice, and autonomy.
Oct 11, 2024
Gender & GBV Prevention
Oct 11, 2024
HIAS' emergency Gender & GBV programs support survivors and individuals at risk. Leveraging a feminist approach, these programs provide high-quality, effective interventions that engage social, legal, and community-based systems and structures to promote gender equality and challenge harmful norms and behaviors that perpetuate violence.
Oct 11, 2024
Legal Protection
Oct 11, 2024
HIAS’ Legal Protection programming includes information sessions to reach populations on the move in a context where state institutions were not functional and expanding traditional legal services to respond to increased demand.
Oct 11, 2024
Cash and Voucher Assistance
Oct 11, 2024
HIAS’ emergency cash and voucher assistance programming ensures forcibly displaced people are not only provided with financial assistance, but also empowered to reconstruct their lives with more autonomy. We put in place comprehensive cash assistance programs in keeping with our dedication to empowering people and encouraging self-reliance, with the hope of protecting and strengthening the resilience and dignity of refugees.
Oct 11, 2024
Child Protection
Oct 11, 2024
HIAS’ Child Protection Emergency programming ensures children impacted by forced displacement are protected from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and harmful practices to realize their rights and develop to their full potential.
Oct 11, 2024
Food Security and Nutrition
Oct 11, 2024
HIAS' emergency food security and nutrition programs aim to help forcibly displaced people and host communities meet their basic food needs. The programs provide targeted preventive and curative nutrition services for people at high nutritional risk who are unable to access social safety net programs.
Emergency Response Fund
In the very first hours of a disaster, the need for life-saving support is often greatest. Lives have been disrupted and populations forcibly displaced; it is then that humanitarian organizations like HIAS (often present before the disaster) must respond quickly and decisively. HIAS’ Emergency Response Fund (ERF) allows for rapid, flexible emergency response within 72 hours of the start of a crisis. The ERF is designed to rapidly fund initial operations and provide critical, lifesaving assistance in the earliest hours. HIAS maintains this fund annually, allowing it to stand ready to quickly serve those with urgent needs. Learn more about this vital fund and how your contribution can help save lives.
