Emergency response fund
The Emergency Response Fund (ERF) allows Caritas Australia to disperse immediate humanitarian relief in the case of a disaster. This contingency funding allows Caritas to respond to disasters which do not receive as much public attention as larger emergencies such as the 2004 Asian Tsunami or 2010 Haiti Earthquake. In the wake of a disaster, funding can be quickly channelled to our field offices and partners, who have the ability to put the funds into immediate use.
Caritas' response
The ERF has enabled Caritas Australia to provide immediate support to 2010/11 humanitarian emergencies in Eritrea, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Burma/Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, Guatemala, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Cambodia, Indonesia, Bolivia and Guatemala.
Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- Basic health services and emergency food supplies were provided to many of the 281,000 people displaced by fighting in 2011
- Repairs to road and communication networks were also provided to support long-term recovery in the DRC.
Eritrea
- Emergency food aid was provided to approximately 50,000 families vulnerable to malnutrition because of severe drought. This support will most likely continue until at least October 2012.
Mozambique
- Clean water and housing were provided to people affected by severe flooding.
Asia
Bangladesh
- Caritas Australia supplied communities affected by monsoonal rains and flooding, with food and basic healthcare.
Burma/Myanmar
- Caritas Australia is supporting civilians fleeing conflict in northern Myanmar, which has displaced more than 25,000 people.
Cambodia
Severe floods have affected an estimated 176,625 families across Cambodia. Caritas Australia helped provide:
- 7,000 households with basic healthcare, sanitation and livelihood support (to households with children, the sick and elderly)
- 3,500 families affected by armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand were provided with temporary shelter, food, basic healthcare, water and sanitation.
Indonesia
- 300 households affected by an earthquake in West Papua were provided with blankets, soap and cooking utensils
- Food and clean water were provided to the victims of an earthquake in Padang, Sumatra
- Emergency aid was provided to the victims of an earthquake in Central Jjava and Yogyakarta provinces.
Nepal
- Emergency aid was provided to the victims of flooding in the Chitwan district
- 863 families were provided with blankets, soap and cooking utensils after fires in two Bhutanese refugee camps destroyed their homes and belongings.
Philippines
- Caritas is providing assistance to 10,200 families, and indirect assistance to a further 30,000 families affected by flooding
- 1,000 families severely affected by Typhoon Nesat were provided with food and medical supplies
- Caritas continues to support rehabilitation and development work in the seven provinces which were most affected by 2009's Typhoon Ketsana.
Thailand
- A heavy monsoon season brought severe flooding to one-third of Thailand, affecting an estimated 8.2 million people. Caritas Australia is providing emergency relief including food, healthcare and access to livelihoods for 44,000 people.
Latin America
Bolivia
- Emergency health and food assistance was provided to communities affected by major flooding.
Guatemala
- We helped to re-establish agricultural production and water, sanitation and housing facilities to communities affected by flooding.
How you can help
Donate
Please donate so we can provide immediate relief to communities in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake or flood. Donations $2 and over are tax deductible. Donate now