Feb 06

Türkiye-Syria Earthquake: Two Years On

On 6 February 2023, massive earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and northern Syria. It is the earthquake with the highest death toll since the 2010 disaster in Haiti. An event that lasted only minutes, but whose devastating effects are still being felt today. ADRA Australia has been one of …

Read More
Jan 16

Fleeing to safety – Samir’s story

At 13-years of age, Samir* has seen things no child should experience. He is one of thousands of children whose lives have been devastated by the conflict in Lebanon. On the first day of the conflict, Samir woke to the sound of airstrikes. The deafening blasts shattered the windows. “He …

Read More
Dec 26

How God Enabled ADRA’s Initial Response to the Asian Tsunami

Words: Robert Patton The events I’m about to relate may be interpreted in a number of ways, dependent on your faith and beliefs. For me, it was nothing less than a series of miracles! In the aftermath of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, what unfolded was an extraordinary journey …

Read More
Dec 22

ADRA Responds to Devastating Vanuatu Earthquakes

UPDATE 22 December: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has mobilised in response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Vanuatu last week, leaving widespread destruction and thousands of lives disrupted. A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook Port Vila on 17 December, followed by another 6.1-magnitude tremor on 18 December. The …

Read More
Dec 02

ADRA Regional Emergency Response Team Training

From 25-28 November 2025, 35 ADRA personnel from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu gathered at Avondale University for a South Pacific Division Emergency Response Team (ERT) training workshop. The training helps to equip ADRA’s first responders in times of disaster. “We try …

Read More
Oct 08

ADRA’s Lebanon Response – 2024

8 October 2024 – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is ramping up humanitarian aid to support displaced communities affected by the ongoing hostilities in Lebanon. ADRA emergency response teams are actively working on the ground to address the urgent needs arising from the escalating crisis.   The armed …

Read More
Oct 07

School 2 School Program

Seventh-day Adventist Schools in Australia are supporting schools in Ukraine through ADRA’s School 2 School Program.  ADRA has reached more than 1 million affected individuals in response and recovery activities. ADRA’s aid includes providing emergency supplies, shelter support, and psychosocial support for internally displaced persons (IDPs). While ADRA’s day-to-day response …

Read More
Oct 01

Disaster Updates – Spring 2024

This was written for and published in the ADRA News – Spring 2024 edition. Papua New Guinea Landslide At 3am on 24 May, a landslide struck Yambali village, Enga Province, causing significant casualties and property damage. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trad (DFAT), an estimated 1,400 households …

Read More
Aug 05

Celebrating 40 Years of ADRA – Laura’s Story

To mark our 40 year anniversary, we wanted to hear from some of our staff and showcase a significant experience or memory they have from their time at ADRA. Today’s story comes from Laura Stephenson, the Operations Manager for Open Heart International, a division of ADRA. Laura shares the time …

Read More
Jul 12

Gaza Response – Abed’s Story

Abed Odeh, a 65-year-old resident in the north of Gaza, once led a peaceful life surrounded by his large family of 25. A father of eight, Abed saw all his children graduate from university with high honours. “Education has always been important to our family,” he says with pride.  Like …

Read More