Issue Insights
Explore practical information and analyses of types of disasters, related issues, affected communities, recovery strategies and how donors can help.
Refugees
Refugees are people who have been forced to cross borders to escape persecution, violence or disasters. All refugees are displaced people, but not all displaced people are refugees. Internally displaced people (IDPs) are those who have been forced from their homes but have not crossed an international border. Refugees often live in displacement camps or under-served communities in their host countries, and are subject to specific risks before, during and after disasters.
View by
Close
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters
Nutrition
In the immediate wake of a natural disaster, feeding and sheltering are two of the major issues that are addressed immediately following evacuation or search and rescue operations. These are core elements of survival and are an important area for government and nongovernmental responders.
Older Adults
Disasters disproportionately affect older people. Yet, this population is often “invisible” in terms of data about risks and needs, guidelines, planning and overall understanding of their unique needs during a disaster.
Pandemics and Infectious Diseases
A pandemic is the sustained transmission of an infectious disease across a wide area of one country or across international borders. Pandemics may be either naturally occurring or the result of human intervention through genetic engineering or biological warfare.
People Experiencing Poverty
People experiencing poverty are more vulnerable to disasters because of the significant impacts of poverty on their daily lives.
People with Disabilities
When a disaster hits, the lack of inclusion in disaster preparedness – combined with adverse socioeconomic outcomes – creates increased risk and problems for people with disabilities.
Public Health
Disasters change the landscape in numerous ways and only a portion of the changes are immediately evident. This is especially true when it comes to public health, which encompasses efforts to protect and improve the health of communities as a whole.
Remittances
Remittances are the transfer of money by a person in one country to a person in another country, often used by migrant workers to send money to family who remain in their home country.
Resilience
The Latin root of “resilience” means to bounce back, but every field has its own definition and most individuals within each discipline will define it differently. Learn more.
Rural Populations
Rural populations often struggle with disaster response and recovery. Explore why.