Medair is delivering urgent humanitarian assistance to displaced populations in Lebanon following recent airstrikes. The organization has dispatched trucks carrying mattresses and blankets to support those fleeing conflict in the south and Syrian refugees already in the country. Anna Chilvers, Medair’s Country Director, stated that the conflict has entered a new phase, requiring immediate life-saving support. Since mid-October, Medair has distributed thousands of items to over 30,000 people across 152 distribution points. The agency continues to assess needs in collective shelters and coordinate with local authorities to address shelter, water, and healthcare gaps. (Source: Medair)
Two months after the September 28 disaster in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, the emergency phase has officially ended, but rebuilding will take years. The region suffered a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, a tsunami, and liquefaction that destroyed villages. While Palu city shows signs of returning to normal, affected areas remain devastated. Residents live in makeshift camps and face psychological trauma from aftershocks. Medair reports that communities are struggling to restore basic income and housing, with authorities estimating a multi-year reconstruction timeline for the coastal city and remote regions.
Medair is providing hygiene kits and health training to remote communities in Honduras’ Gracias a Dios department, following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Iota and Eta in November 2020. The organization navigates complex river systems to reach isolated villages in the Villeda Morales municipality, where flooding contaminated water sources and increased disease rates. Staff distribute essential items like soap and chlorine to prevent waterborne illnesses, particularly among vulnerable children. This intervention aims to improve long-term health conditions in an area where access is limited and infrastructure remains damaged. The project is funded by Swiss Solidarity and private donors, addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Medair deployed an emergency response team to Honduras following Hurricanes Eta and Iota in November 2020. Dr. Suny assessed damage in Puerto Lempira and remote Gracias a Dios communities, where over 175,000 people sought shelter. The storms caused severe flooding, landslides, and crop destruction, isolating Miskito populations in dire poverty. Medair is providing hygiene supplies, water purification items, and repairing health centers to prevent disease outbreaks. The organization notes it is one of only two international groups supporting this region, addressing critical needs for safe water and sanitation amidst widespread infrastructure damage.
Hurricane Matthew destroyed homes and farmland in Timpé, Haiti, leaving residents without safe water or shelter. Medair responded by distributing 2,500 shelter kits and 2,000 hygiene kits to families in Tiburon Commune. These supplies enabled emergency repairs and improved hygiene practices. Resident Alicia, whose house collapsed, used the materials to build a temporary shelter for her family. The aid helps vulnerable populations address immediate needs for safety and sanitation following the storm's destruction.
Medair has begun providing emergency aid to isolated villages in Ecuador's Esmeraldas province following a devastating earthquake. While initial relief focused on Pedernales, remote areas like San Gregorio and Borbón were overlooked. The organization is now distributing shelter materials, water filters, and kitchen sets to families in hard-to-reach indigenous communities. Medair also plans to offer psychosocial support to hundreds of children and adults suffering from trauma. This intervention aims to ensure that vulnerable, isolated populations receive necessary resources for recovery and future disaster resilience. (Source: Medair)
Medair reports that Sudan is experiencing its worst-ever acute food insecurity, with millions facing crisis or emergency levels. The ongoing conflict has displaced millions and destroyed agricultural systems in key regions. Consequently, millions of children suffer from severe food insecurity. Humanitarian access remains restricted, and aid convoys have been attacked. Medair continues to provide nutrition services in a state in eastern Sudan, though funding remains critically low. The situation highlights the severe impact of war on civilian populations and the urgent need for international support to prevent further loss of life and suffering across the nation.
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee warns that Sudan’s humanitarian situation has reached catastrophic levels, with 25 million people needing aid. Since the conflict escalated in a major city in April 2023, millions face displacement, hunger, and violence. Medair reports that aid access is severely hampered by closed borders and attacks on workers. Although Medair continues operations in several regions, the UN’s response plan is only 16 percent funded as of June 2024. The agency urges increased support to prevent famine and address acute malnutrition affecting millions.
Medair provided free medical care to a young child suffering from severe acute malnutrition in a region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After his mother traveled a significant distance to a local health facility, nurses diagnosed the child with complications requiring intensive treatment. The team transferred the child to a referral center, where he received specialized supervision and therapeutic food. Medair states that living conditions have declined due to conflict and poverty, leaving many villages empty. In 2024, the organization treated over 25,000 children for severe acute malnutrition in the DRC. The child has since regained his appetite and is recovering under the care of a nutrition specialist.
Humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached record levels, prompting the UN to scale up operations in mid-June. However, Medair and other NGOs warn that current resources are insufficient to address escalating conflicts in northern regions. These crises have displaced nearly 2.5 million people and triggered cholera and measles outbreaks. According to the Medair Country Director, the situation is severe but underreported. The International NGO Forum also expressed alarm over shrinking humanitarian space due to renewed violence, cautioning that without increased funding, the response will fail to meet the needs of 26 million food-insecure citizens.
A Medair country director describes the Democratic Republic of Congo as facing a neglected crisis. Since late 2022, fighting in northern regions has displaced nearly one million people. The organization is responding with health care, malnutrition treatment, and water sanitation programs to combat cholera and measles outbreaks in displacement camps. The director warns that upcoming elections may worsen the situation. Medair is seeking additional staff and financial support to sustain these life-saving interventions in the region.
A humanitarian organization’s country director reflects on six years of operations in Iraq amid violence, displacement, and the pandemic. The agency served over 850,000 people, including vulnerable communities and families in specific cities. Despite challenges like fires and accidents, staff continued providing health care, clean water, and mental health support. The director notes that chaos can distract from steady progress, but aid persisted throughout the period. Services are funded by international partners. The reflection emphasizes resilience and the importance of focusing on controllable outcomes during crises, highlighting the organization's commitment to serving those in need despite ongoing instability.
The CEO of Medair stated the organization ended the year in a financially stable position, despite global humanitarian funding falling significantly below expectations. The NGO faced difficult decisions, including closing clinics and nutrition centers in South Sudan and Afghanistan. Teams continued critical work, such as combating cholera in South Sudan and aiding earthquake victims in Kunar province. The CEO highlighted the resilience of affected communities and thanked donors for their support, which helped sustain life-saving operations during a challenging year for the humanitarian sector. (Source: Medair)
Svitlana, a head doctor in a Ukrainian town near the Russian border, refused to evacuate when the conflict began in February 2022. She and her colleagues remained to provide essential medical care, including retrieving insulin from a damaged pharmacy. Medair has since helped repair their health center, including a children's clinic destroyed by fighting. The organization's shelter team restored the building's roof, windows, and heating. This support enables Svitlana and her team to continue serving the local population, which includes 5,000 children who previously lost access to pediatric care. The project is funded by PMU and Swiss Solidarity.
Medair assisted Marina, a woman displaced twice in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, in securing stable housing through its Alternative Housing Solutions programme. Funded by the European Union, the initiative provided rental assistance and casework support to help her find affordable accommodation in Dnipro oblast. Marina, who faced difficulties finding a landlord willing to accept her dog, now has a permanent home. This stability has allowed her to find employment and improve her mental wellbeing. The project aims to bridge the gap between temporary transit centres and long-term independence for the millions of internally displaced people in Ukraine. Medair also provides shelter and winterisation aid across several eastern regions.
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