Emergency Fund
Preparing for the unpredictable
© UNHCR/Ying Hu
UNHCR responds to a new crisis every 10 days – but you don’t hear about all of them.
We live in an increasingly volatile world. In recent years, successive crises in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Sudan, to name only the most prominent, mean that there are now more displaced people worldwide than ever before – over 110 million.
In 2023, UNHCR responded to 43 emergencies in 29 countries – a record number of crises in one year alone. Global needs are escalating at an unprecedented pace, putting growing pressure on UNHCR’s resources. Whilst some of these emergencies spend a few hours, days or weeks in the global headlines, others remain tragically invisible.
“They came to my neighbour’s house, took the boys to be recruited and the women to be raped. We are scared and we have nothing to eat.” – Bizima, Sudanese refugee
The scale of human suffering may feel overwhelming, but there is something very tangible you can do to help. Through a gift to the Emergency Fund, you can help UNHCR to respond wherever and whenever the needs are greatest so that people like Bizima, pictured above, aren’t left behind.
UNHCR: a leader in emergency response for over seven decades
UNHCR's reach is global
UNHCR operates in over 135 countries with over 90% of the workforce based in the field. With seven strategically located warehouses, UNHCR can launch a large-scale response for 1 million people within just 72 hours.
UNHCR leads collaboration
Coordinating with NGOs, UN and government partners to ensure a joined up response.
UNHCR stays on the ground
UNHCR’s response continues long after the TV cameras have moved on. Together, we work to ensure the self-reliance of people forced to flee including their access to education, work and healthcare.
Workers unload relief kits from the UNHCR truck for distribution to newly arrived Sudanese refugees at the Madjigilta site in Chad’s Ouaddaï region, on the border with Sudan. The kits include a plastic bucket, soap and a jerry can. © UNHCR/Colin Delfosse
Workers unload relief kits from the UNHCR truck for distribution to newly arrived Sudanese refugees at the Madjigilta site in Chad’s Ouaddaï region, on the border with Sudan. The kits include a plastic bucket, soap and a jerry can. © UNHCR/Colin Delfosse
The Emergency Fund: play a leading role in saving the lives of people forced to flee
UNHCR’s emergency response is being tested to the limit. Flexible funding, channelled via the Emergency Fund, helps UNHCR prepare and respond to urgent or neglected needs.
By supporting the Emergency Fund, your impact can be seen in three vital areas:
Readiness:
Donations ensure UNHCR’s early warning systems can identify potential humanitarian crises. They also make sure expert staff are fully trained to respond to local challenges, and that UNHCR’s seven global logistic hubs are fully stocked with emergency humanitarian supplies.
Response:
Flexible funding helps UNHCR teams to develop and deliver a bespoke humanitarian response for 1 million people within 72 hours This response includes setting up reception centres and safe spaces for women and girls and providing lifesaving relief items such as mattresses, kitchen sets and hygiene kits.
Recovery:
Through the Emergency Fund, flexible funding helps UNHCR to stay on the ground to support those trapped in silent emergencies rebuild their lives with dignity. This includes providing long-term support like access to health and psychosocial care, education and livelihoods.
Maximising your impact
As the potential for new humanitarian emergencies looms large, the challenges we face are immense. But these challenges are not unsolvable. A gift to the Emergency Fund helps UNHCR to prepare for the unpredictable, kick-start an emergency response and bolster forgotten crises.
“The Emergency Fund resonated with us because it provides rapid responses during emergencies and enables us to support underserved groups. It aligns with the EA Foundation’s goals and complements our existing portfolio of projects. Contributing to this innovative giving model brings us great satisfaction.” – Richard Bronze, Co-Founder of the EA Foundation.
A father holds a young girl to cross the Tachira River, which forms the border between Venezuela and Colombia. Colombia hosts more than 2.4 million of the 6.8 million Venezuelans who have sought refuge outside their country. © UNHCR/Vincent Tremeau
We’d love to hear from you
If you have any questions, or would like to discuss how the Emergency Fund can meet your philanthropic goals,
please get in touch with by calling 0203 761 8094 or emailing [email protected]
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