Disaster Relief and Emergency Response in 2009

AmeriCares sends disaster relief and emergency aid to people in need, wherever they are, whenever they need it and 2009 was no exception. Emergencies struck early in 2009 and did not stop. In all, over $20 million in emergency aid helped survivors of natural disasters and major disease outbreaks, as well as man-made disasters including terrorism, civil conflict and war.

Help AmeriCares provide medicines and humanitarian relief to people in desperate need around the world »

From Zimbabwe’s deadly cholera outbreak last winter, Darfur’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, and devastating floods in Senegal last fall, AmeriCares sent emergency relief throughout Africa.

In the spring and summer, civil conflict and political unrest raged in Sri Lanka and Pakistan – and AmeriCares was in the field helping innocent survivors. The final days of Sri Lanka’s civil war caught thousands in the cross fire; today, over 90,000 refugees remain in camps unable to return home due to destruction and landmine-riddled roads and fields.

The Taliban and Pakistan’s military went head-to-head near the Afghan border, forcing millions of innocent civilians from their homes. AmeriCares sent medical aid and humanitarian relief to help provide care for the refugees from Pakistan’s Swat Valley.

Another threat emerged in 2009 – the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu. AmeriCares worked hard to protect families across the United States against H1N1 and related infections. Since the beginning of the swine flu outbreak, AmeriCares has been sending infection control supplies such as masks, disinfectants and gloves to American clinics serving the poor and uninsured.

Fall was marked by catastrophic typhoons, earthquakes and a tsunami in the South Pacific when AmeriCares sent relief workers and millions in aid to points throughout the region.

Most recently in Latin America, mudslides claimed hundreds of lives and floods left thousands homeless in El Salvador. AmeriCares responded with critical medical aid and provided emergency response to workers on the ground.

Donate Now