In the aftermath of conflicts or natural disasters, people often need assistance from the international community. The UN is there to help get the aid flowing and to enable recovery and rehabilitation. UNV volunteers frequently play a key part.

Supporting the operations of various UN agencies, UNV volunteers engage in a wide range of roles with the ultimate aim to save and protect the lives of people such as refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), to alleviate suffering and to maintain human dignity.

These roles include, among many others, protection officers, community services officers, repatriation officers, food distribution monitors, programme officers, field officers, logisticians, procurement specialists, warehouse managers, material management specialists, administrative assistants, transport coordinators and radio technicians.

In the past five years, UNV volunteers have supported humanitarian activities in war-torn and post-conflict countries such as Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Thailand, to name a few.

UNV volunteers have also supported humanitarian assistance efforts in countries during famines and after natural disasters, for example in the immediate aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

• Learn more about UNV and UN peacekeeping operations
• Learn more about UNV and post-conflict electoral operations

To register your profile in the UNV database of potential candidates, please go to register to be a UNV volunteer.

UNV is coordinating with other UN agencies on the relief and recovery in Haiti.

Currently, we are recruiting volunteers with a background in disaster relief, response, reconstruction and management and are planning to mobilize volunteers with a social and medical background in the weeks to come. Fluency in French is a must for all the assignments.

If you are qualified in these areas and you are already registered in the UNV database of candidates, please do not register again. Instead send an email to 'haiti2010@unvolunteers.org'with your roster number in the subject line.

If are not yet registered and you meet the criteria, please select the 'Haiti2010' option in the lower drop-down menu on the application page ("I am applying in response to a specific vacancy announcement or recruitment drive") and enter your personal details.