Almost one week since a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, the death toll has risen to over 2,000 and 12,000 are injured. It is reported that a staggering 500,000 people, 40 percent of the total population in the areas hit by the earthquake, need emergency humanitarian assistance. Nearly 61,000 homes have been destroyed and more than 76,000 damaged. Thousands of people have been left homeless, sleeping outside, and in desperate need of shelter.

We continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan, worried about security, displacement, abuse, poverty, Covid-19 and in particular the rights and needs of women and girls. The greatest refugee burden of those that have fled Afghanistan rests on the shoulders of neighbouring states. On World Humanitarian Day we are inspired by local and international charities that bravely do what they can to address vulnerability there.

World Humanitarian Day is a reminder of the scale of humanitarian crises faced by so many across the world, as well as an opportunity to recognise the dedication and sacrifice that aid workers make to help relieve this suffering. At World Jewish Relief we proudly celebrate the role played by thousands of staff and volunteers at every one of our 70 local partner organisations, in 20 countries, who are saving and changing lives every day.

World Jewish Relief, supported by the UK’s leading Jewish communal agencies, has launched an emergency appeal in response to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Saturday, devastating much of the country.

World Jewish Relief is deeply concerned by the situation in Afghanistan. We are aware of the scale of the humanitarian crisis both in the country, and in neighbouring states where displaced people have fled to.

In Rwanda, World Jewish Relief has been engaging with young people. Our local partners have been teaching them new ways of thinking, behaving and working, and supporting them to build prosperous livelihoods. Together we are striving to modernise agriculture and make it attractive to young people.

World Jewish Relief are launching an emergency response in Ethiopia, in partnership with trusted NGO NALA. Since November 2020, conflict in the Northern region of Tigray has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis affecting millions. According to the UN, more than 1.7 million people have been forced to flee their homes and are now displaced within the country. More than 5 million people require urgent assistance.

World Jewish Relief has signed up to the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations. In doing so, we join a growing movement of local, national and international humanitarian organisations deeply concerned about the scale of the climate crisis and committed to building our capacity to respond.