From emergency relief to recovery

emergency relief includes all measures we take before, during and after a disaster to save lives and deal with the immediate impact of the disaster.

Focus on basic needs

At emergency relief we focus primarily on the basic needs of those affected. We provide food, potable water, clothing, shelter, medical and psychological care. Examples of emergency relief include evacuations, search and rescue operations, distribution of emergency relief supplies and providing medical assistance.

Special intervention teams

After a disaster, it is important that we help victims quickly. That's why we have emergency response teams that can deploy immediately. They consist of specialized aid units with experts who have appropriate equipment. Together with our Walloon, Luxembourg and Dutch colleagues, we form an intervention team specialized in the distribution of emergency relief supplies.

Recovery that makes stronger

After a disaster, we start rebuilding damaged or destroyed buildings, roads, schools and houses. In addition, we make work of rehabilitation. We help a community to return to the pre-disaster living conditions - including psychological, social, economic and cultural. We do this based on the principle of "building back better. By improving people's self-reliance, they are more resilient in the event of the next disaster.