Respond to Emergencies
The number of people crossing the treacherous Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama has risen dramatically in recent years, one of many humanitarian emergencies HIAS is currently responding to around the world. (HIAS Panama)
Overview
HIAS is committed to proactively responding to emergencies around the world in order to better assist displaced populations — including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people — and vulnerable host communities. These emergencies include complex, protracted situations arising out of conflict or political upheaval, those triggered by a natural disaster, or the initial stages of the effects of climate change.
Displaced individuals are at heightened vulnerability to emergencies and disasters, and these crises are often the springboard for large-scale and long-term displacement. Through the HIAS Emergency and Humanitarian Programs Team we provide immediate help to short or long-term displaced communities. The team is prepared, funded, and ready to scale provision of essential goods and services, build resilience, and support recovery. HIAS’ Emergency and Humanitarian Programs Team better enables HIAS to continue meeting the most critical needs facing vulnerable populations before, during, and after an emergency.
Responses
JOIN OUR EMERGENCY ROSTER
HIAS is looking for experienced, high-quality humanitarian professionals to join our emergency roster. The aim of the HIAS roster is to bolster our emergency response capacity and to increase our capacity to effectively respond to humanitarian crises around the world. Humanitarian professionals on the roster should be interested in short-term deployments to respond to global emergencies and crises.
How to Join
All open roster positions will be posted to HIAS’ careers page. Successful applicants will be added to the HIAS emergency roster. Roster members will be contacted when they are needed to support an emergency response and may need to deploy within 72 hours.
Impact Stories
For Israel's Refugees, October 7 Brings Fresh Trauma
Immediately following the October 7 attacks, HIAS activated its Emergency Response team to provide support to those affected. One focus of HIAS’ response is the country’s African asylum seeker community, most of whom come from Sudan and Eritrea. For many, the recent attacks have brought back memories of the genocide in Darfur.
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Saleh Adam, an asylum seeker from Israel, appears at a food distribution event at the Negev Refugee Center in Negev, Israel, on December 27, 2023. (AG for HIAS)
Desperation Drives Thousands Through Darién Gap
For years, people have risked their lives to traverse the Darién Gap in an attempt to get to the United States. Many have died trying. HIAS, which has well-established operations in Panama and nearby Colombia and Costa Rica, has staff on the ground in the region and is working to help those fleeing violence.
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VIDEO: HIAS Panama Country Director Roberto Mera reports from the Darién Gap in Panama on the increased numbers of migrants traveling through the region. (HIAS Panama)
Responding to Severe Flooding in Chad
In the Koukou Angarana region in eastern Chad, where HIAS works in the Goz Amir refugee camp, more than 1,000 households were affected by severe flooding at the end of July 2022. As one of the main humanitarian aid partners of UNHCR and the World Food Program in eastern Chad, HIAS is distributing food, sandbags, tents, blankets, plastic sheeting, and mosquito nets.
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Refugees in the Goz Amir refugee camp in southeastern Chad walk through high waters that caused damage in the camp and host communities, August 2022. (HIAS Chad)
Resources
Sep 28, 2022
The Emergency Response Fund
Sep 28, 2022
This fund is used to establish a foundation for emergency response capacity during times of displacement and for actively responding in a variety of contexts including critical emergency needs assessments.
Sep 13, 2022
Waiting for the Sky to Close
Sep 13, 2022
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