Disaster risk reduction, emergency relief, reconstruction and protection

 People being provided with water from a tank in South Sudan
In South Sudan, Swiss Humanitarian Aid has built several water supply points to provide local communities with drinking water. © SDC

Disaster risk reduction, emergency relief, reconstruction are three fields of activity of the Humanitarian Aid of SDC. This corresponds to the work that needs to be done before, during and after a crisis, armed conflict or disaster.

Prevention refers to all of the measures taken in terms of protection of the population and infrastructure.  Hazard prevention and vulnerability reduction are part of sustainable development and are promoted in all SDC projects and programmes. The main goal of emergency relief is to save lives and alleviate the worst suffering caused by a crisis. Two-thirds of the Humanitarian Aid’s funds are earmarked for emergency relief measures. Reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts can begin after an emergency when the situation has stabilised. In situations of protracted conflict, activities in all three fields may be carried out at the same time. 

On the other hand, protection of civilians is one of the four thematic priorities of the Humanitarian Aid of SDC beside disaster risk reduction, water/sanitation/hygiene, and gender-based sexual violence.

Disaster risk reduction

While natural disasters strike both rich and poor countries, the consequences differ greatly depending on the level of a country’s development.

Rapid Response and Emergency Relief

Swiss emergency relief operates through its experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) in crises, conflicts and disasters worldwide.

Reconstruction and rehabilitation

Generally speaking, reconstruction and rehabilitation is chiefly concerned with restoring the living conditions of the stricken community.

Protection

Survivors of armed conflict and natural disasters are exposed to the risk of physical and mental violence.

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 141

Renforcement de la protection des populations vulnérables dans les régions de l’Ouest et Nord-Ouest du Cameroun

01.03.2023 - 31.12.2025

Le conflit armé dans le Nord-Ouest et le Sud-Ouest (NOSO) a déjà fait plus de 4'000 morts et a déplacé plus de 715'000 personnes. La population civile est victime de violations graves et répétées du droit international humanitaire et des droits humains. Ce projet vise à réduire la violence et améliorer l’accès aux services de prise en charge des victimes.


Enhancing Protection and Justice for Vulnerable Children and Youth in Jordan

01.02.2023 - 31.12.2025

Children are among the most affected by multiple crisis in Jordan. The holistic child protection intervention proposed by Terre des hommes (Tdh) addresses and responds to the complex and intertwined protection needs of the most vulnerable children and youth in Jordan. It links quality of services with institutionalcapacity building and advocacy, thereby fostering a right-based and more sustainable child protection system and addressing hindering social norms in a comprehensive way.


Program Contribution for Fondation Terre des hommes 2023-2024

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024

The program of the Terre des hommes Foundation (TdhF) aims to sustainably reduce child mortality and morbidity and to secure access to health, sanitation and clean water for mothers and children (0-18 years) in severe poverty. Children in contexts of migration, conflict and disasters, and child victims of violence are better protected. International standards in child-friendly justice are promoted. Humanitarian interventions in fragile contexts, combined with poverty reduction and sustainable development are promoted through innovative work with children and youths.


SPHERE Humanitarian Accountability Project 2023

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

Sphere is a diverse global community that brings together frontline practitioners, humanitarian agencies, community organisations, trainers, donors, policy makers, government agencies and affected communities around a common goal – to improve the resilience of, and outcomes for, people affected by disaster and crisis. The Sphere Handbook is one of the most widely known and internationally recognised sets of common principles and universal minimum standards in humanitarian response.


Contribution to UNRWA's Programme Budget 2023-2024

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024

UNRWA is one of Switzerland’s key multilateral partners in the Middle East, due to its important contributions towards stability and peace in the region and its role in providing services and humanitarian assistance to people in need. Under its Programme Budget, UNRWA ensures universal access to quality primary health care and to basic education to 5.8 million registered Palestine refugees. It also provides targeted relief and social services to vulnerable refugees.


JOR Medair: Social protection program towards improving resilience of refugees and vulnerable Jordanians

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2025

The project initiates a third phase during which Medair Jordan will continue to reach new households in Amman, Irbid and Mafraq with case management and cash for protection, including emergency cash assistance, while focusing on livelihoods solutions to improve the resilience of refugees and vulnerable Jordanians. The project will also build and strengthen the institutional capacities of local actors to provide social protection services through coordination and experience and knowledge exchange.


Allocation of SDC Funding in 2023 to ICRC Operations in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

SDC funding to International Committee of the Red Cross operations allows the ICRC to respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises.


2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - DRC

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.


2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - Central Africa

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.


2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.


2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.


Allocation of SDC Funding in 2023 to ICRC Operations in Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2023

SDC funding to ICRC operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross to respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises.

Object 1 – 12 of 141