Disaster Relief

Flooding in Australia

After days of heavy rainfall, the mid-north coast of New South Wales experienced devastating floods with the Manning River flood level at Taree at the highest in recorded history. Up to 30,000 are still isolated by flood waters, an estimated 10,000 properties are damaged, and there have been five deaths.

ADRA Australia has activated its National Emergency Management Plan to respond and is working with neighbourhood centres in Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Kempsey, Lake Cathie, and the Manning Valley to provide multi-purpose cash assistance to those most affected. We are also providing clean up services and psychological first aid support for both those affected and those responding. As part of our response, ADRA is partnering with local ADRA projects, Seventh-day Adventist Churches and ACS.

Myanmar Earthquake

A magnitude-7.7 earthquake has struck Myanmar and Thailand, causing widespread destruction. Tremors were also felt in Bangladesh, India, Laos, and China. The death toll has surpassed 3,600 and more than 5,000 injuries have been reported. More than 17.2 million people were living in affected areas.

The most urgent need as identified by the community includes emergency shelter kits, food support, water, sanitation and hygiene, infrastructure, and medical care. ADRA has been able to provide families with cash assistance. Cash assistance allows those affected to acquire goods that are most needed, whether that is a tent for shelter, food, water, clothing, or medicine. Already, 300 families in Myanmar have received support from ADRA with plans to support an additional 565 families from Mandalay and Sagaing in the coming weeks.

We are coordinating our response with other local organisations to ensure the greatest impact.

ADRA Australia has joined with member charities to support the Emergency Action Alliance Myanmar Earthquake Appeal.

Vanuatu Earthquake

At 12:53pm AEDT on Tuesday December 17, a magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck Port Vila, Vanuatu. There have been 14 deaths and over 200 people injured have been reported so far. The Vanuatu government has declared a state of emergency. Businesses, homes and properties around Port Vila have been destroyed.

ADRA has distributed more than 4,000 litres of water, hygiene kits, dignity kits, and menstrual hygiene kits to families and individuals sheltering across five evacuation centres. The team is part of the Displacement and Evacuation Centre Management (DECM) cluster who are assessing the needs of evacuation centres, where many people remain too afraid to return home due to frequent aftershocks.

Health awareness campaigns, psychological first aid (PFA) and the dissemination of information materials are also part of ADRA’s immediate response. Medical supplies and clean water remain critical priorities for families left without access to these necessities. ADRA is working with the Department of Water Resources to help restore the water supply to affected communities.

Lebanon Conflict

ADRA is responding to the increased displacement crisis in Lebanon. Since mid September 2024, strikes against the engaged political party have occurred, with pagers and walkie-talkies exploding, and airstrikes in southern Beirut and more widely across the country.

Over 1 million people have been displaced, with food and water been identified as the greatest needs. ADRA is collaborating with the World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian agencies to deliver food parcels to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provide e-cards (electronic vouchers) for food and other essential needs. ADRA also supplied educational assistance to displaced families at the Adventist Secondary School, such as textbooks and uniforms, as well as food and non-food vouchers.  Additionally, ADRA is working to ensure that communal kitchens and restrooms are operational to serve more people.  You can learn more about ADRA’s response here.

Conflict in Gaza

ADRA is taking urgent action to address critical food security needs among displaced communities in Gaza in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.

Together with our partners Anera, in 2024 ADRA supported 29,630 individuals who have been displaced by the conflict in Gaza.

– Food Distribution: ADRA’s response includes the procurement, preparation, and distribution of 29,630 hot meals and food parcels through community kitchens in North Gaza, ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive nourishment during these trying times. The food parcels contained culturally appropriate essential items such as potatoes, carrots, cooking oil, tomato sauce, and za’atar—an aromatic Middle Eastern blend of herbs, sesame seeds, and sumac spice.

You can read more about our response here.

Ukraine Response

The protracted conflict in Ukraine requires ongoing support for those affected. The project “Psychological Assistance Spaces for Ukrainian Children Affected by War” addresses the urgent need for psychological support among children and adults impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The project aims to foster psychological well-being and support the recovery of children and adults affected by war, addressing the profound emotional challenges they face. It seeks to equip students with essential tools to navigate their educational and career paths while restoring access to quality education. By ensuring uninterrupted learning for displaced, vulnerable, and evacuated children, the initiative creates a foundation for resilience and hope in the face of adversity. The project will also include the creation of сatch-up centres to make up for educational losses. Catch-up centres in Ukraine play a critical role in addressing educational losses caused by the ongoing war and displacement of students. These centres provide a safe and supportive environment for children who have faced disruptions in their learning due to conflict, school closures, or forced relocations. By offering tailored educational programs, psychological support, and access to digital learning tools, they help bridge learning gaps, ensure continuity of education, and promote emotional well-being.

As well as supporting children, the project will also deliver psychological assistance to teachers who provide educational services and parents who raise children in extremely difficult war conditions. The project will operate in schools in Lviv, Bila Tserkva, Bucha, Kherson, and Dnipro.

You can find out more details of our response here.

Deadly disasters often strike without warning.

With a strong global presence in over 100 countries, ADRA is well-placed to help in times of need. When people need us, we’re already there.

Your gift to our Disaster Relief Fund helps us provide immediate disaster relief when disasters, like those listed above, strike. Your gift also helps to provide long-term recovery and disaster risk reduction activities in the aftermath.

ADRA’s purpose is deeply rooted in the principles of justice, compassion, and love. As such, ADRA helps people in need regardless of age, gender, ethnic background, and political or religious affiliation.

To support ADRA’s response in times of disasters, donate below.

Cover Image: ADRA Ukraine. ADRA members prepare to respond to the conflict in Ukraine.
Photo Gallery – Images from left:
ADRA Papua New Guinea. ADRA staff assess the damage after the 2024 landslide.
ADRA Romania. A convoy enters Ukraine to deliver supplies to internally displaced people.
ADRA Syria. Food distributions in Latakia following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
ADRA Afghanistan: Consulting a local affected by the 6.3 magnitude earthquakes.
Donate Image: ADRA Syria. ADRA members assess the damage after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Türkiye

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