International Disaster Response

International disaster response occurs when foreign governments, agencies, and organizations assist a society whose government and civil institutions cannot adequately address the needs of its disaster-affected populations. Assistance includes immediate and longer-term efforts designed to save lives, alleviate suffering, maintain human dignity, and help people prevent, mitigate, prepare for, and respond to future crises.

1. Explore the social issue

Read our international disaster response social issue report, which includes: an overview of the social issue, an investment recommendation, information on the return on investment, and ways to take further action.

Click here to read the full social issue report

2. Select an organization

The guide to giving provides information needed to evaluate international organizations that respond to disasters. 

Click here to read the guide to giving

The organization reports highlight international organizations we selected based on their alignment with the recommended approach. 

Click here for a list of selected organizations

Selected Organizations

Action Against Hunger | ACF International

Action Against Hunger | ACF International (ACF) works to end hunger in situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity. ACF's programs focus on nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food security and livelihoods. From preventing and treating malnutrition to building resilience to crises, ACF helps communities achieve or regain self-sufficiency.

Read report on Action Against Hunger | ACF International

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CARE USA

CARE USA strives to address structural barriers to overcoming poverty, such as, patterns of discrimination and exclusion; corrupt or incompetent public institutions; lack of access to essential public services; conflict and social disorder; and major public health threats. CARE focuses on the underlying causes of vulnerability to disaster and encourages women's participation in community development.

Read report on CARE USA

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Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide works to eliminate extreme poverty and reduce suffering in the world's poorest countries. Among its values are gender equality as a prerequisite for development; rapid response in emergencies; respect for the environment; and promoting community commitment to vulnerability reduction through active participation in disaster response.

Read report on Concern Worldwide

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Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian organization working to eliminate substandard and unsafe housing for families in need, and end homelessness around the world. Habitat develops innovative models for housing and shelter assistance in regions vulnerable to or affected by disasters or conflicts, and integrates community-based risk reduction initiatives and methodologies into shelter and housing programs.

Read report on Habitat for Humanity International

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International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee responds to humanitarian emergencies ranging from natural disaster to violent conflict. Its work involves fostering peace, stability, and sustainable reconstruction; helping refugees establish new lives; protecting and empowering women and girls; reuniting families separated by catastrophe; and helping children and former child soldiers recover from trauma.

Read report on the International Rescue Committee

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Islamic Relief Worldwide

Islamic Relief Worldwide works to relieve the suffering of the world’s poorest people. It operates through a worldwide network of affiliated partners. An independent, international nongovernmental and nonpolitical disaster response and development organization, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, and disease.

Read report on Islamic Relief Worldwide

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Merlin

Merlin is a nongovernmental disaster response and recovery organization specializing in health. Merlin works across health fields by treating casualties, helping rebuild healthcare systems after a disaster, and performing hazard analysis. Merlin is committed to research, policy, and advocacy work to help improve the disaster response ecosystem.

Read report on Merlin

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Oxfam America

Oxfam America fights global poverty, hunger, and social injustice, and provides humanitarian assistance in emergency situations. Oxfam America is part of the Oxfam International confederation of organizations engaged in sustainable development initiatives, disaster response operations, policy research, campaigning, and advocacy. It does not accept U.S. government grants, but builds broad-based, grassroots support independent of U.S. foreign policy.

Read report on Oxfam America

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Plan International

Plan International is a child-centered organization working to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan's areas of expertise include education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, economic security, and disaster response. Child protection and education are the focus of its relief and recovery work which enables children to participate in disaster response and risk reduction decision making.

Read report on Plan International

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The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement) works to prevent and alleviate human suffering, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity during war and humanitarian emergencies. The Movement conducts its disaster response and recovery work through its National Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The American Red Cross is the Movement's National Society in the U.S. It helps disaster survivors domestically and supports other national societies in providing immediate and long-term support to disaster-affected populations in dozens of countries.

Read report on the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

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Save the Children

Save the Children works to resolve poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and disease among marginalized and vulnerable children and their families. Its emergency response efforts serve those facing disproportionate risks of human rights violations in emergencies (e.g., women, children, and orphans). By building relationships with civil society, governments, UN agencies, and the private sector, Save the Children delivers child-supporting programs and raises awareness of child poverty among political and economic decision makers globally.

Read report on Save the Children

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United Nations Children's Fund

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the UN agency dedicated to advocating for and defending children's safety, health, education, and rights. UNICEF coordinates the fieldwork of aid organizations engaged in nutrition and water and sanitation. It also participates in child health and protection operations. Its assistance to youth in humanitarian crises also includes reintegrating demobilized child soldiers into society and preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, and the recruitment of children into armed groups.

Read report on the United Nations Children's Fund

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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides protection and assistance to millions of refugees, returnees, internally displaced, and stateless people. Its work includes mobilizing shelter, protection, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education and livelihoods programs for forcibly displaced people after a disaster and advocating for refugee rights around the world.

Read report on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

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United Nations World Food Programme

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger globally. Through its responses to disaster and its post-emergency and development operations, WFP works to save, restore, and rebuild lives; reduce chronic hunger; and help countries address hunger issues themselves.

Read report on the United Nations World Food Programme

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World Vision International

World Vision International is a network of Christian relief, development, and advocacy organizations working with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. It serves survivors of natural disaster, famine, and civil war, and works with communities to develop resilience, learn their rights, build food security, and restore livelihoods.

Read report on World Vision International