Natural disasters, poverty, disease, and war impact millions around the world. Americares provides disaster preparedness, medical aid, disaster relief and recovery.
In vulnerable regions, we pre-position emergency medical supplies, help communities reduce risk and prepare for disaster while training health care providers. More
In the first hours, our emergency team sets in motion a disaster relief operation uniquely suited for the crisis and conditions on the ground. More
We may stay in country for months and years, rebuilding hospitals and clinics and addressing targeted health needs of the community and restoring health care access. More
The past year and more have highlighted the increasing frequency and severity of overlapping crises – driven by extreme weather events, the worst earthquake in nearly a century in Türkiye and Syria and the War in Ukraine. This trend has had a devastating impact on health, particularly among groups vulnerable to disasters, as communities have struggled to rebuild from concurrent and consecutive events. Scroll down to find out more about the places and people that have confronted crisis – past and present.
Active Emergency
As the violence in Israel and Gaza rages on and the humanitarian needs intensify, Americares is focused on the most urgent medical needs of civilians caught in the crisis.
Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 storm, made landfall on August 30 along Florida’s Big Bend, near Keaton Beach with life-threatening winds of 125 mph and a dangerous storm surge. The storm has devastated coastal communities and will take years to recover. Many of the hardest hit communities were already suffering from limited to no medical access within the county and Americares is responding to meet their needs.
Active Recovery
The deadliest wildfires in the U.S. in more than 100 years have consumed the community of Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii. Americares deployed an emergency team to respond to the disaster.
The first day Americares mobile clinic was providing care in southwest Haiti, Dr. Dominique Georges saw something unusual in the afternoon: patients were returning. “The first people to receive treatment went home and then returned a short time later with four or five family members,” says Dr. Georges, Americares Haiti program director. Americares dispatched the mobile clinic in response to flooding and earthquakes in southwest Haiti.
Americares is responding to the worst earthquakes to strike Türkiye and Syria in nearly a century. Thousands have died and many more injured in a region already struggling with a long humanitarian crisis.
Americares is meeting health needs of children and adults affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through its support of local organizations in Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. We will continue to support local organizations with medicine, medical and relief supplies and technical support, including training.
Hurricane Ian made landfall just south of Tampa, Florida on Wednesday, September 28 as a terrifying Category 4 hurricane with a potentially deadly storm surge. Its destructive power is historic in scale. Americares is responding.
Hurricane Fiona brought torrential rains to Puerto Rico, causing catastrophic flooding, mudslides and widespread destruction. Americares Puerto Rico team is responding.
Heavy rainfall produced devastating flash flooding throughout southeastern Kentucky causing at least 30 deaths, dozens more missing, significant displacement, and widespread property damage. Americares is responding.
On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, August 29, Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana with 150 mph winds as a Category 4 hurricane. Americares was on the ground even before Ida made landfall.
Dozens have died, and many more are missing or injured, in one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in the United States in years. Americares is responding.