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  UNV: Responding to emergencies    
UNV volunteer Liu Lei speaks to the Red Cross psychological intervention team before heading to the disaster area. (L. Liu/UNV)
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has a long history of supporting relief operations in the aftermath of disasters, from Hurricane Mitch in Central America in 1998, to the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, and the 2008 cyclones in Myanmar and Haiti.

Scores of UNV volunteers have helped coordinate relief efforts, mobilize resources and rehabilitate devastated populations.

Their rapid deployment, professional skills and prior experience in disaster response brings hope to overwhelmed communities. Their presence also supports communications between ordinary people and national governments, donors, international aid organizations and the UN system.

UNV volunteers provide a crucial way to tailor assistance to local needs and conditions. Read more below about our work over the years.

  Crisis response and disaster risk management    
UNV volunteer Mariachiara Argenti's photograph shows the extent of damage caused by the 12 January earthquake in Haiti. (UNV)
"Every little thing helps"
24 February 2010
Port-au-Prince, Haiti: To be a volunteer means more than doing what's expected of you. In the days and weeks after the Haiti earthquake, UNV volunteers made sure they got involved from the word go. Read
More about: Emergency relief
Countries:  Haiti  Italy  Portugal
The MINUSTAH headquarters in Haiti was destroyed during the 12 January earthquake. (UNV)
Volunteers rally for Haiti recovery
19 February 2010
Pretoria, South Africa and Georgetown, Guyana: It's been demonstrated time and time again how important voluntary action is in the aftermath of natural disasters. UNV volunteers have been making a difference. Read
More about: Civil society  Emergency relief
Countries:  Guyana  Haiti  South Africa
Mika Maiava gets involved with emergency relief in Samoa after the 2009 tsunami. "I can vividly remember Mika's appearance on this scene," says tourist Maurice Brown. "He quickly assessed the situation, put communications into place, informed authorities of immediate needs and set about organizing the site into an efficient shelter from the sun and wind." (UNV)
Volunteers: The front line in the wake of disaster
18 February 2010
Lalomanu, Samoa: Whether it's earthquakes, tsunamis or extreme weather, when disaster strikes it's not the aid and rescue agencies who are the first on the scene to assist. It's volunteers who were there already. Read
More about: Emergency relief
Countries:  Samoa  Tanzania, United Republic of
UNV volunteer Martina Benedetti (right) and Valerie Julliand, UNDP’s Resident Coordinator in the Dominican Republic (left), during the delivery of certificates to local organizations in Barahona. (UNV)
Walking together through the path of recovery
25 September 2009
Barahona, Dominican Republic: We provided them with the instruments and knowledge required to help overcome future natural disasters. Being a UNV volunteer placed me among the people in need and allowed me to walk with them through the difficult path of recovery. Read
More about: Emergency relief
Countries:  Dominican Republic  Italy
Local knowledge is invaluable in coming up with creative ways to win people's attention. (UNV)
Preventing crisis with drama
09 April 2009
Kalmunai, Sri Lanka: To take disaster reduction messages to the people and engage local volunteers, one UNV volunteer found himself out on the street. Using his local knowledge, he saw outdoor theatre as a way to capture people's attention. Read
More about: Emergency relief
Countries:  Sri Lanka
The UN and UNV volunteers assisted people in Haiti after hurricanes in 2008. (Stock photo: M. Rizzolio/UNV)
Spreading the word in hurricane-hit Haiti
10 September 2008
Gonaïves, Haiti: After a series of exceptionally severe storms, thousands of people in Haiti are in need of accurate information about how to cope and recover. UNV volunteers are helping to keep them informed. Read
More about: Emergency relief  Peace & conflict resolution
Countries:  Cameroon  Haiti
Other languages: en français  
Caring for the millions of homeless after the Sichuan earthquake is an urgent priority for volunteers. (L. Liu/UNV)
UNV volunteers support Chinese earthquake relief
21 May 2008
Sichuan Province, China: UNV volunteers are working in Sichuan province in China to support medical relief for people displaced by the recent earthquake. One of them is writing an online diary of his experiences (last updated 1 June), and was joined in May by two others. Read
More about: Emergency relief  Refugees & displaced people
Countries:  China
Other languages: en français  
Mr. Asghar Ali Shah, National UNV Camp Manager for District Government Manserha, telling a lady in her camp how to safely use gas stove for cooking. (Photo: UNV/Waqas Anees)
Emergency response in the earthquake zone
23 August 2007
When Pakistan was shaken by a massive earthquake on 8 October 2005, a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions unfolded:  towns and villages became graveyards as thousands of lives were buried under the rubble.  “It was as if our entire community was swallowed whole by the earth,” said Syeda Bibi, a survivor who lost three children in the tragedy. “They are gone. Everything is destroyed. I am still breathing”. Read
More about: Emergency relief
Countries:  Pakistan
Other languages: en français  
Two years on: UN Volunteers and the post-tsunami reconstruction effort
18 December 2006
Banda Aceh, Indonesia: Norimasa Tochibayashi arrived in Indonesia on February 23, 2005. He had no job, no idea where he was heading and how he could help, and no contact numbers of people who would be willing to support him. He was only certain of one thing: he wanted to help those who most needed it after the December 26 tsunami. Read
UNV Tsunami Response Factsheet (31 kb) Recruitment at UNV Banda Aceh Feature (127 kb) Story of UNV volunteer Annie Ong Hui Nee (27 kb) Story of UNV volunteer Frederike Meijer (81 kb)

More about: Emergency relief  Environment
Countries:  Indonesia  Maldives  Sri Lanka
Amid tsunamis’ destruction volunteering spirit spreads
04 February 2005
Bonn, Germany: Since the tsunamis struck on 26 December 2004, the UNV programme continues to expand its presence in the affected countries. To date, some 40 UNVs are in these countries. Read
More about: Emergency relief
Countries:  Indonesia

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UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)