Emergency Response Team

2011 UPDATE

2011 has seen an unprecedented number of crises and natural disasters, and UNHCR has been called upon to respond to many simultaneous emergencies. High Commissioner António Guterres said earlier this year he could not remember a time when the agency had been "under so much pressure".

Our Emergency Response Teams have been delivering life-saving support to people fleeing the famine in East Africa, the conflicts in Libya, Cote d'Ivoire and Sudan, and floods in Pakistan and Colombia. We rely on our monthly donors to provide the consistent funding we need to respond as soon as possible.

Thank you very much to all our Emergency Response Team supporters!

2010 IN REVIEW

The Team: The Emergency Response Team is a dedicated, highly trained group of UNHCR staff who provide a fast and effective response to any crisis, anywhere in the world. The team works in the toughest conditions, delivering life-saving essentials like food, water, shelter and healthcare.

Australian support: Our monthly donors provide the regular, reliable support we need to ensure the Emergency Response Team is ready to provide life-saving relief whenever and wherever crisis strikes.

In 2010, our Australian supporters gave $7,726,207 in monthly donations which enabled UNHCR to deliver emergency aid in Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan among other countries.

Total funds raised to date: Since Australia for UNHCR was established in 2000, our monthly Emergency Response Team supporters have given an incredible $20,733,279 (as at 31 Dec, 2010). Together, we really can make a world of difference. Thank you so much!

2010 EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENTS

During the year, UNHCR deployed 235 emergency staff to 38 countries to assist the victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters. Emergency Response Team members provided UNHCR country staff with specialised and additional support in key areas like emergency coordination, technical support, telecommunications, protection, community services, camp management and logistics.

Below is a summary of deployments:

AFRICA: 76 emergency staff in 13 countries - Kenya, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Sudan, Benin

ASIA AND PACIFIC: 98 emergency staff in 10 countries - Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines

AMERICAS: 16 emergency staff in 4 countries - Colombia, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Venezuela

EUROPE: 7 emergency staff in 3 countries - Russian Federation, Hungary, Serbia

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: 34 emergency staff in 7 countries - Yemen, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Algeria, Mauritania

Read more about the work of the Emergency Response Team!