“In the face of such unbearably difficult circumstances for so many, the British public never fail to step up and show extraordinary compassion to those in need.  These images show just a fraction of the work undertaken by local and international humanitarians, volunteers and aid workers to help the member charities of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Set against the backdrop of conflict, climate change and natural disasters, I was particularly drawn to the recurring themes of hope and resilience running through these photographs.  I can only express my warmest possible thanks for the remarkable generosity of the British public in enabling swift action to support those in the most desperate of conditions, and my particular admiration for those humanitarians who risk so much in the service of others.” 

His Majesty The King

This World Humanitarian Day, HM The King asked the DEC for an update on our humanitarian work. This included these 15 images, one from each of our member charities, covering our most recent appeals – Afghanistan, Ukraine, Pakistan and Turkey-Syria – as well as Sudan and Gaza, where the DEC is closely monitoring developments. 

Health workers in Syria TREAT EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS In remote areas

Health worker Khuloud (left) assesses a child for malnutrition. She is part of a mobile health clinic set up by DEC charity Action Against Hunger after the earthquakes in February 2023. Reaching remote parts of northwest Syria, the fully-equipped medical team provide treatment, screening, referrals and counselling.

This image captures the life-saving efforts of local health workers who put their patients first, even if they are personally affected by a disaster.

RescueRS search for survivors after the DEADLY earthquakes

Rescue workers strive day and night to find survivors after the Turkey-Syria earthquakes in which over 50,000 people died. It is always local responders who are the first on the scene, like these members of Violet organisation - a partner of DEC charity ActionAid in Idlib, Syria. 

This image shows not only the devastation but the courage, dedication and unyielding spirit of those who risk their lives to help others in the toughest of circumstances.

community space provides a haven for older people in ukraine

A singing group led by Ukrainian folk musicians gather at a community safe space in Dnipro, supported by DEC charity Age International. Larysa (far left), is recently widowed and says the project provides much-needed social interaction. "I come here every day and I'm just busy all day and don't think about bad things."

The incredible amount donated by the UK public to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has helped meet the physical, social and mental health needs of those affected.

Aid workers PROVIDE URGENT RELIEF TO earthquake survivors

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey, aid workers provide blankets, tents, food and other emergency aid to survivors in the hardest-hit areas. Rescue teams from the Turkish Red Crescent, the local partner of DEC charity British Red Cross, also provide psychological support, hot meals and medical aid across ten provinces, reaching the worst-affected areas.

Donations to DEC appeals allow our member charities to respond fast and effectively when disaster strikes, scaling up their efforts at a time of critical need.

Mobile health truck reaches flood survivors in Pakistan

Patients wait to be seen at a mobile health clinic for communities affected by devastating floods that hit Pakistan in the summer of 2022. With a surge in illnesses after the disaster, DEC charity CAFOD and their local partner provide life-saving health services in areas lacking medical facilities.

The health clinic truck is later painted in Pakistani truck-art style by local artists working with the DEC to showcase the resilience of survivors who were supported by donations to the appeal.

families supported to earning a living again after tHE FLOODS

Tasleem, a mother of four, stands by her new motorbike in Sindh, Pakistan. Having lost all her belongings in the floods, DEC charity CARE International helped Tasleem set up a successful sewing business. She now earns enough money to send her children to school, repair their home and even purchased a bike for her husband to help with deliveries.

After the initial emergency phase of a disaster, DEC charities continue to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods with dignity and independence through training and cash grants.

Food parcels help FAMILIES in afghanistan survive hunger crisis

Amina's family receive food to help them survive the crisis in Afghanistan, in which over 20 million people faced hunger in 2021. Having moved from Kabul to Herat in the hope of finding work, she and her husband were struggling to provide food for their children. The support from DEC charity Christian Aid meant they were able to increase their nutrition intake.

In every humanitarian response, DEC charities and their local partners work hard to identify the most vulnerable families so that support reaches those most in need. 

earthquake survivors SUPPORT their LOCAL community

Local aid worker Muhammed (right) meets earthquake survivors living in camps in Syria to assess their needs for DEC charity Concern Worldwide. He can relate to the community's suffering as he was personally affected by the disaster. As the ground shook on 2 February 2023, he managed to rescue his daughter with the help of neighbours but lost his brother and other relatives. 

Many aid workers in Syria are survivors like Muhammed, motivated to help their community. Supporting the work they do through local charities is an important part of the DEC's work.
 

SOLAR WATER SUPPLY HELPS VILLAGERS MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS

Farmer Gulab, from Sindh, Pakistan, is also president of the village committee that worked with DEC charity International Rescue Committee (IRC) to install a solar water supply system. After floods in 2022 devastated the local infrastructure, the village committee identified the lack of clean water as an urgent need.

Working with local communities to understand their needs after a disaster helps DEC charities provide a tailored and more sustainable aid response.

Hot meals reach families displaced by conflict in gaza

Laila works as part of a kitchen providing hot meals to families in Gaza displaced by the devastating conflict. DEC charity Islamic Relief works with the UN World Food Programme to provide the bakery with ingredients and fuel to keep running. Since October 2023, they have provided 22 million meals through 26 kitchens across Gaza.

Aid workers in Gaza are supporting their communities in some of the most challenging conditions on Earth. Over 38,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the last ten months, including more than 200 aid workers.

Refugees who are most vulnerable receive support after fleeing Ukraine

Natasza does her granddaughter’s hair at a refugee shelter in Warsaw, Poland. Previously a choreographer and dance therapist, she now works as a community assistant for the local partner of DEC charity Oxfam who provide support for Roma refugees affected by social exclusion and racism.

In times of disaster, DEC charities identify and support those who are most vulnerable in society, including displaced communities from Ukraine who were denied the right to refuge or were not considered Ukrainian.

Mental health services help children cope with traumatic experiences

Mavka helps her daughter Olesia* with homework in a public bomb shelter in Kharkiv, Ukraine. As well as practical support, DEC charity Plan International and its local partner provide psychological support to help children cope with the traumatic experience of conflict. Since receiving help, Olesia has started to go outside again.

An important part of the DEC's reponse work is supporting locally-based organisations to provide psychosocial assistance to the communities they know best.

*names have been changed to protect identity

Children fleeing Ukraine are greeted by friendly aid workers at the border

Children fleeing Ukraine with their families are greeted with toys and activities to make them smile, as the conflict escalates in March 2022. DEC charity Save the Children staff are stationed on the Romania border to provide humanitarian aid including food, hygiene items, clothes and shoes.

In addition to aid items, DEC charities provide information and guidance to refugees to make them aware of their rights and the support they can access.

Farmers learn new climate-smart farming methods in the face of future disasters

Dr Iqbal (right) shows farmers how to use a soil moisture metre at a climate-smart agriculture workshop in Sindh, Pakistan. In an area prone to flooding and drought, DEC charity Tearfund works with its local partner to teach flood survivors new techniques to make their crops more resilient.

Pakistan is among the top ten countries in the world most affected by climate change. Two years after the devastating floods, DEC charities have helped build the capacity of local communities to face future disasters.

Volunteer aid workers run play activities in camps for child refugees from Sudan

Afaf, a volunteer with DEC charity World Vision, skips with Sudanese girls at a refugee camp in Chad. The child-friendly spaces aim to create nurturing environments in which children can access free and structured play and learning activities, restoring some sense of normality to their lives.

Over four million children have fled widespread violence in Sudan in search of safety, food, shelter and healthcare, as home is no longer safe.